An Example

30 June 2007 – An Example

Titus 2:6-7

In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

To tell someone to do good, it is work in vain if the advisor failed to keep what he/she talked. Imagine that how can a smoking father tell his son not to smoke? It is impossible right? It is the main thing I want to share with you today – Example.

Example is very important by all means, let’s talk about things other than daily lives and teachings, let’s talk about math, have you ever encounter with a topic that has tons of explanation and yet you don’t even get an idea of what is it talking about? Of course!! (Deep agree!) This time if the author gave a few examples to the reader concerning about the topic, after we went through it, we will understand deeper than just reading the explanation.

This is the power of the example, example not only shows us what is really the thing is about, but to let us be led to do that particular thing and learn to achieve it. When this principle get back to our daily lives, it comes a great difference, Paul advise Titus to teach his people with proper and good teaching, encourage them, advise them, and he himself must be an example to them!

If you teach someone a knowledge, it is important for the teacher to be following what he had taught, if not the student will sure following the guts of the teacher, for a proper teacher will train a brilliant student (名师出高徒), how your teacher teach is not enough, the success of teaching is focus on the attitude of the teachers themselves, it is the key of success of teaching.

No matter in what sorts of society, in family, in company, in class, in church, in tuition, in restaurant, in car, etc. We must practice to have ourselves a good example first then we are qualified to teach others!

Franco

Condemner to Conversionist

29 June 2007 – Condemner to Conversionist

Titus 1:12-13

Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”

This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.

In the busy and highly demanded society, in the daily lives of the people in the marketplace, there are many inappropriate moral values that has caused many of the social problems exists and getting more threatened. It is common to know that a child has not given a chance to meet their parents for a few minutes a day due to their works; So much trends has made a conclusion that businessmen should not be honest, honest has no value to be embraced; People stop demanding after quality relationship but starts to chase after materialism and temporary happiness. These really made us worry and anxious about.

What should we, as a Christian, children of God, do? (Give some opinion on this...) Some of them might think that we should stop mingling with them, let them continue what they are doing and we continue what we are doing. Some might has an opinion that we are holier that them, they are fallen, cannot be saved anymore, let them end up in the place of burning sulphur and let us enjoy ourselves. They are condemning others to be sinner but they continue their own lifestyles! Friends, I totally disapprove this statement!

For me, individually, I have learnt about what Paul instructed Titus, he knew that the people in Crete, even the local persons said that Crete this place was full of the people of liars, cruel animals and lazy gluttons. Guess what Paul said after that? He said that “It is true!!!!!” Paul agreed with that! So the people in Crete is just somehow like the condition we saw in our societies. Paul didn’t teach Titus to condemn them! Paul instructed Titus to reprimand them sternly that they had done incorrectly, correct them, advise them, make them strong in faith!

This is my emphasis today, we should turn from a condemner to conversionist! We should do it in the other way round, instead of condemning; we should start to convert the things back to God original purpose of the creation at the beginning, for God has made everything GOOD and VERY GOOD!

Franco

Glossary:

· Conversionist: A person at which it converts the corrupted things that has been abused and return it back to

the purpose of the Creation at the beginning

(e.g. child abuse is getting worse nowadays, we can lead them by spending quality times with our children to have a good example before the people and let them realize how important are their children)

Companions

28 June 2007 – Companions

Amos 3:3

Can two people walk together
without agreeing on the direction?

I read this scriptures this morning and it gave me some kind of inspirations, it is that we people cannot cooperate together without agree on the direction of work field. It is quite true, it is the one and only one way to become one in all in a group of people, or even just two people.

It is the same principle when someone searches for friends, what is friend? Friend is a person who knows you? Who likes you? Who always by your side no matter what? Friend is not only a person who knows you but understands you; Friend is not only a person who likes you but who loves you; Friend is not only a person who always by your side no matter what but who will correct, rebuke and encourage you when you done wrong, and build you up in confidence downpour.

So, friends are important for us, we people cannot live alone, as we are afraid to be alone, plus we will be nobody if we do not rely on somebody’s help. So it is important that you can find right companions in your life. People can’t calk together without agreeing on the direction, if we have any comment on the directions, we will end up in quarrelling and separating in despair.

It is same as husbands and wives, if the spouses do not have the same aims, same objectives and same directions, the spouse will find themselves difficult to go on their ‘journey’. As there was a saying that, ‘Beginning a relationship is easy, but it takes efforts when it comes to maintaining it’.

Be aware and find your companions of life, especially the special one that accompanies you throughout your lives, it is the most wonderful time when one has found their true companions.

Franco

Word Power

27 June 2007 – Word Power

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Today let us get back to the heart of worship, we have talked about many things before about attitude, evangelism, make a difference, etc. Now it is time to get back to the core of the message, which is self-improvement. Without self-improvement, it is insignificant to learn all those things, things do not change along the time and what you had learnt, things change when our thinking change! So it is not how much things we learnt that determined our personality, it is we ourselves determined how our self character.

You will notice children have a variety of guts and characteristics, though they learnt the same thing everyday in class, this is what I meant. You will not be affected directly by what you learnt, but directly you will change when your mind changes! It is quite obvious; it is we ourselves who control ourselves, our brains are the central of all life activities. Therefore, external factors will not influence the internal mindset, unless you want them to.

Meanwhile, the word of God is applying the same principle, if you have a mindset of learning and knowing, it is different from the one who just follow it as a pattern of a “Christian”, the fake Christian is even worse than the unbelievers. So today we have to make studying the word of God as a good habit, for God gave us the bible for us to use from the past till present, of course extending to future! How come only a book can endure so much challenge of time? Wouldn’t those words expire and out of date? Friends, this is where the wonder is!

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

This is a promise that his word will never expire, but still making impact in the very world! As the Scripture is inspired by God and use it as an equipment of good works, it is like a mirror to us, who reflects ourselves and let ourselves see how wrong we were and correct it! So, get back to the heart of worship, learn to word of God, and all things will come to past, it will be natural to experience the change of attitude, and marketplace evangelism and making a difference in the world!

Franco

Salvation from Crisis

26 June 2007 – Salvation from Crisis

Jonah 1:16

The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.

Today I have read about the story of Jonah, which I know that it is an interesting one, and meaningful. I am captured with the experience that Jonah had. Let me make an account for the storyline, Jonah was called by the Lord to deliver message to people of Nineveh that He will bring destruction to that place, but Jonah refused, he tried to run away from the Lord’s presence! Is that God doesn’t know? Of course not! He saw all these happenings.

So he went up a sailing ship to sail to the other side of the place, away from Nineveh. Lord has bring the wind to that water, that caused a great storm, this time, the sailor starts to become afraid and calling out to their gods, but Jonah was sleeping there (sarcastic huh?), Jonah knew that he is the cause of this great storm:

Jonah 1:

11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?”

12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.

14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”

15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!

At the end, surprisingly, the sailor, who was serving the other gods, has turned to the Lord and believed in Him!

What am I trying to emphasize in this story? I am putting out a point that even if we had done rebellious act to God, once the other people said that how we have changed and turned back, salvation will be there too! In the story, it was a storm at the sea, in this very world, it could be a crisis in a company, threat in a business, pressure in examinations of schools, etc. Jonah has rebelled against the Lord for not fulfilling his vows, so God used him in the meanwhile to make an impact to the sailors who were with him, God can make us to drew an impact to the person around us, even if we had done wrong before, it is not that a sinner cannot evangelize, in fact who are evangelizing everyday are all sinners!

Can you get the point? It is not necessary to have to words from mouth to evangelize, but instead, if we let others see the living testimonials, especially in adversity and hardships, the impact is still there too, might be even greater!

Franco

Courageous Spirit

25 June 2007 – Courageous Spirit

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Many of us enjoying our deep relationship in God, and most of us enjoy reading his words and are delightful in his Grace, which has the most perfect life of worship. But when someone has asked about our religion, we do not admit that we are Christians; They asked us what are we doing every Sunday, some say family day, some say social club, why don’t the people say that we are going to Church!? Even sometimes a so-called ‘mature’ Christian even don’t dare to say grace before the meal in front of his non-believers peers.

Why is this happening? Why everyone become so timid? We shouldn’t be like this, this is not what God wants, God wants us to recognize that we are His children, but we not only disapprove our relationship with Him, and we don’t dare to tell others that we go to Church! Friends, this ought not to be happening, God has given us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (self control), not the spirit of fear and timidity! Somehow we are filled with fear and timidity, we might think so much that if we tell others that I am a Christian, they must be mock at me and humiliate me, laugh at me, and how I can stand this kind of experience. It is better for me to be get involved into my peers group rather than told them I am a Christian and experiencing boycotting. Friends, this is certainly NOT what it is all about!

We should be courageous, we have a courageous spirit from God, as we admit ourselves children of God, we won’t be losing anything but rather gained many things!

Mat 5:10

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

We can learn patience, we can learn gentleness, we can learn our faith, which are all applicable in our daily lives! Friends, let us be courageous and faithful! For Faith can move away a mountain!

Franco

Money

24 June 2007 – Money

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

A lot of us have a point in mind that, money is evil, therefore, we Christian should not have money, because money will make us fall and don’t love God anymore. Friends, I tell you. ABSOLUTELY CERTAINLY REMARKABLY NOT! Why should I say so? Let us see what the point of view of God towards money is:

Genesis 2:12

The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there

God saw money (gold) is good! Furthermore, at the beginning, after God has created all things in the world, he saw that and he said that it was very good! So we know that everything created in God is good in its original purpose, friends, is everything! Money is not the root of all evil, but love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)

So it is okay for us to become rich, if our attitude towards money is correct. It is not the money it is not good, it is the intention that we used to apply the money make this not good. Money is neutral for itself, it would not cause us to become bad or good, it is just our minds that cause us to sin!

So, Paul said on behalf on God, tells us to do well with our money, and always ready to share with others! Sharing is loving, let us seek his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these will be added to us!

Franco

Works

23 June 2007 – Works

1 Timothy 5:25

In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

In the very world we live, many of the people, including me myself, love to do the works which are revealing. That means I want to do the works so that others could see, so that I know what I can do can benefit others. But do you know that, there are still many people who work in secret, like some kind of backstage workers, underground workers, etc.

But, fear not and anxious not, God has promised this kind of people, who did not desire for the revealing works – will someday come to light! Their works will someday being known, such as some researchers in laboratory, they can be said done in secret, but someday everybody use what they invented in their lives! So this is the meaning of come to light someday!

1 Tim 5:18

For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

God has put everyone of us work to get our pays, what is his purpose other than allow us to get our pays? Other than ensuring us to get our pays, which we known as salaries and wages, God has trained us to become a better person through work! If you are a businessman, it is sure that your communication and social skills are like pros; If you are a movie producer, then your master of the power of imagination is undeniable. Friends, can you get what I mean? It is that you can excel in every ways of your lives, including works! So that we can act as salt and light to the world, and let the world be astonished with us.

This is the main purpose of work other than getting our salaries, let us continue to fear the lord, trust in him, rely on him and let us be the salt and the light of the world, including working place!

Franco

Good Creation

22 June 2007 – Good Creation

1 Timothy 4:4-5

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

1 Tim 4:16

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching.

Let me start off with the ultimate Scripture from Genesis:

Genesis 1:1, 31

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Let us notice what God has said when he created the heavens and earth, he looked over all he had made in the past six days, he saw that it was very good! It is not difficult to catch the meaning that it was GOOD. So we should bear in mind that since everything God created is good, but in the very world nowadays, we had noticed that the world is not as good as God created before, agree?

So, what should we do now? Reject it? Leave it alone? Or perhaps we just stay in the church always and enjoy the presence of God without letting the world has a chance to ‘touch’ us, so that we would not be contaminated!?! Friends, I tell you, CERTAINLY NOT! You have hurt God’s heart when you did so! God did not tell us to do this, God doesn’t want us to leave the world, but he still put us in the world nowadays. Think about it! Why he still wanted to place us in this world? There must be some mission waiting for us to complete!

So this is our Cultural Mandate, we should go into the world and get involved, but not to devote into the world, but use your talents, your knowledge, your success to make a difference in the world! Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it! This is what God’s will.

So we should not be arguing for the unspiritual things such as what food we should or shouldn’t eat. Friends, God is far greater than food right? As we pray, it is made holy and acceptable in God, for whatever you do, you do it for the Lord and then it will be acceptable, as everything created in God is good! We should restore it back into God’s original purpose of creating!

We are the conversionist! That convert the abused things back to the things that functions in God’s way! Let’s treat it with the renewed mind and attitude! (again? :))

Franco

F.A.M.I.L.Y

21 June 2007 – F.A.M.I.L.Y

1 Timothy 3:4-5

He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

“Okay, Mr. Franco, I think today we have something new to learn other than attitude right?” “Nope, today I am going to talk more about attitude too.” “What? That again?” Indeed! Today I am going to share with you how to identify our attitude as a leader.

Some of you might say, ‘I am not a leader, so this is not my business.’ Certainly not! You might not be a leader in a great organization, in school, in church, in whatever, but in your family you might be an elder brother or sister, you might be a leader among your friends. So, it is necessary for us to learn to become a leader before we become a leader.

Again, I said, attitude is the key of success of life! What is your attitude toward this message today, then it will be the key of the impact that God has done to you. The attitude of a leader should be determined, courageous, influential, etc. But God has emphasized another point on this, he said that a leader must manage his own family well! You should practice to have a good relationship with family member then you can proceed into leading and taking care of others. It is unreasonable to tell other to honor our parents but we ourselves always involved in family commotion, we can’t tell anyone to share with each other if we failed to do it on our brothers and sisters in our family.

A leader is an influential person, what you do and what your attitude is, will be inherited to the follower! So we must bear in mind of this point. When you successfully understand the meaning of family, then we will be success leading others as an example.

Recently I have seen an email stating the acronym of FAMILY, it is quite deep in meaning:

Father

And

Mother

I

Love

You

Franco

Attitude of Prayer

20 June 2007 –Attitude of Prayer

2 Timothy 2: 8

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Again, I am still emphasizing the matter of ‘attitude’, some of you might say, ‘hasn’t it enough?’ But I tell you, we never end in learning in our process of life! Even we are old and matured, many of us still suffer in the matter of attitude!

Attitude is a key of success of life and social skills. You can never deny that the attitude can determine the success or failure of your life, as how you treat the thing, then how you will be treated with. How should I put this? Let’s have some bread of life:

Matthew 7:3

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

⁽The measure you give will be the measure you get back)

Even God said that how you measure the thing that you viewed, and then you will be measured back with that measure. It applies in all sorts of living, not only in judging others. For example, when you are in your career of engineering, if you measure this career as worthless and treat it with a pessimistic mindset, ‘How can engineer success in life? Engineers are worthless and nothing can be done under an engineer!’ Then the rest of his life will end up being a worthless engineer. It is not the factor that engineers do not have a bright future, but the person itself treat it with a wrong attitude.

Again I say, attitude is very significant by all means! Before you enhance in your skills in the area that you wished to involve into, you must tune your attitude right! Notice this before-after basis!

Before: Tune your attitude right

After: Enhance in your area

It is the same when we pray (2 Tim 2:8), we should have our holy hands lifted up, that means we should be devoted and do not be distracted! Secondly, we should free from anger, it is obvious right? How can we pray when we are in anger? We might curse the person instead of pray for him and bless him, in other words, we should get rid of all our internal feelings, including sadness, anxiety, anger. Commit them all to the Lord, then this will be the right attitude. Thirdly, we should free from controversy, which means we should talk the talk and walk the walk!

Friends, let us tune up our attitude before we do anything, for it a major factor for everything!

Franco

Characteristics of Believers

19 June 2007 – Characteristics of Believers

1 Timothy 1:5

…all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

From the words of advice above, we know that this is for all believers, it is the characteristics of all believers of Christ should have. Many of us has lacked some of it, some of them has clear conscience, but impure heart; some of them possess pure heart but constantly unfaithful. It is reasonable that we are imperfect, but the fact is we are achieving perfection from time to time! We will improve! Right?

A Christian life is a journey, it is not that we have believed in Christ then it is the end, it is a journey. A journey means that we will go from one place to another. We will depart from worse and arrive to best at the end! It may seem impossible, but it is the Christianity about, it is not about salvation, it is about life-changing! Paul can be a good example:

1 Tim 1:13-14

Even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

Paul used to be a wicked man, but the Grace of God abounds in Him and end up with the apostle of Christ, this drastic change is not merely by Paul himself, but by the power of God in his life, it is nothing superficial, it is real. Even it happens nowadays, have you heard of a conman turned into a Good Samaritan? It happens to a brother in KL; There are many shipwrecked lives who repaired and reused by God. Everything works out for good (Roman 8:28)!

So we should keep improving rather than standing there, we must let other sees that we are Christians, be glad about it, not shame of it! For Christ is our glorious redeemer!

Franco

Power of Salt

18 June 2007 – Power of Salt

Colossians 4: 5-6

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive (seasoned with salt) so that you will have the right response for everyone.

As a Christian, it is important that we should mingle among the non-believers in our world. It is unreasonable for the Christian to only get involved in God’s ministries and not fulfilling the Great Commission, i.e.:

Matthew 28:18-20

…“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations (all peoples, in Greek is kosmos), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We should be familiar with this, but how many of us discovered that Jesus used the word kosmos to describe the term “all the nations”? So what is the meaning of this word? In Greek, kosmos this word gives a meaning of every areas of society and culture. In many researches of humanity, the human scientist believed that the society is being supported by seven pillars:

(1) Religion

(2) Family

(3) Business

(4) Education

(5) Government

(6) Arts

(7) Media

The final 5 of the pillars of society is generally known as the marketplace. So we need to go into the marketplace instead of always staying in the first 2 areas of life, which is the mistake that most of the Christians had done.

We have to become a living testimonial to other people, especially non-believers. As you know, action speaks louder than words! So what can we say? Act it instead of blowing out from your mouth always! It is a wide coverage of evangelism that we can penetrate to if we know how to make a difference in the society, especially marketplace!

So, let your words and acts among the unbeliever be gracious and attractive, so that they will approach the salvation in a more convincing way rather than you just inviting them to church always without seeing any difference in the life of the inviter.

“You might not be able to see the impact of your acts.

But if you act it, you will see the differences!”

Franco

Family Matters

17 June 2007 – Family Matters

Colossians 3:18-21

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

It is common to know a saying of idiom: “Like father like son”. I bet you know the meaning of this idiom; the children will have become the shadow of his parents when the children grew up, not only in terms the outward appearance, but inward personality. As a result, the main emphasis today is that Family is Important for all of us in building our personalities!

Children learnt from their parents, as the time that a kid spent with is with their parents. So, the majority of character was built up during their early years of lifetime, it has an old Chinese sayings that ‘an attitude built up from 3 years old will be determined for the rest of his 80 years (三岁定八十)’. God really take a family important than anything else after Him, if a person loves the family, they will have good relationship with each other and it ends up with harmony and happiness.

God also emphasized in the Ten Commandments that we should honor our parents, so that we may live long in our lands (Exodus 20). People may not have all own a family to have children, but we are all the children of our parents, God knew this point very well, so He make the move from the children. God has make family so important that He said that salvation will come from family member when one of them has saved:

Acts 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

As a result, for everyone who wanted to devote themselves to God’s work, we should first work out with the family matters first, as it will become a hinder of God’s anointing, in no doubt. So, God tells us that a wife should honor and devoted to his husband, husband should love his wife; Children should obey their parents! Did you get the point? Family is significant! So, relationship does not work in one way, it must cooperate in two ways, as children obey their parents, parents should also be understanding that they shouldn’t provoke their children, but to encourage them, build their confidence, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Franco

Rooted build up in Him

16 June 2007 – Rooted build up in Him

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Col 2:6-7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

In the Bible Study today, I have read the Scripture that we should be rooted and build up in Christ! What is meant by rooted? How can we build up in Christ? This is the problem that we should study today.

At first, what is meant by rooted? Rooted, as you know, plant all have roots right? So what is the matter about saying we should be rooted? Let me put it like this, did you see a tree stayed at the garden of my house today has gone to the garden of my neighbor’s house tomorrow? Even if you see that, you have to consider a factor that you are in a sweet dream in that moment. The meaning of rooted in this Scripture is that we should ‘plant’ ourselves in a house of God and ‘suck up’ the ‘nutrients’ that the church provided.

In other words, we should stay in the house of God and be planted yourself in it to learn what God wanted you to learn! It is important that we should find a particular church which is primary for us. We shouldn’t have been a ‘jumping crickets’ of churches. We should have a specific church for us to learn the word of God.

Secondly, by doing the first thing, it should have no doubt that we can build up ourselves in Christ, we can strengthen in faith! You only can understand the objective of a church if you are a consistent member of the church, you can only know the direction of a church going if you are planted in a church. Thus, you also will be improved in terms of Spiritual life, experiencing growth to spiritual maturity!

As we understand these two points, we will have a mindset that we can be grow strong in faith and become a faithful servant and sons and daughters of God! As faith can move the mountain, and make a difference!

Franco

All about Self-Control

15 June 2007 – All about Self-Control

Colossians 1:11-12

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

What is all about in the Bible? That people can pass it from generation to generation, century to another century? What is really inside it, what is the inspiration of God inside it? Well, bible is all about two things in main:

(1) The mirror of self attitude

It is undeniable that when we read bible more, the more we knew that we have sinned. As the bible not only tells us to do the right things, but to do the things right.

2 Tim 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

(2) A path for us to know more about the Author (God)

When you read the editorial works of an Author, no matter in what type of literature masterpieces, as you read more, you will understand the author more. As the author will express himself and show his characteristics through his hands. It is the same with God, when we read bible more, we will know him more, and unsurprisingly, we will ripen the fruits of the holy spirit:

Galatians5:22-23

..the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

I started to read bible this year, planning to complete the whole bible in the end of this year. I realized that I have come to the level that I have more understanding from the beginning. We will improve, as long as we start to work hard.

I make the conclusion by finalizing with two questions, do you want know your creator more? Do you want to make yourself be a person with better attitude? If the answer is yes, in no doubt, start practicing to read the bible, and at the end apply it into our daily lives!

Franco

Worry-Free Attitude

14 June 2006 – Worry-Free Attitude

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

It is quite common and unavoidable that we humans like to worry things around us. Have you noticed that? Taking an example, a person worry of the food he cooked whether delicious or not, worry about when he is driving, worry about his work, worry about his study, etc. There are tons of things to worry for us, that will lead us to serious frustration and depression.

Reminiscing what had I said last few days, it is the attitude that matters! Everyone has an attitude, which greatly influenced his or her personality. If one has a indifferent attitude, then one will end up becoming a lazy and sloppy personality; If one has an attitude of self-centered, then one will end up becoming a selfish and unkind person. If someone has a worry-bounded attitude, then his life will become full of pessimistic view and frustration.

God has taught us to free from worries! Of course, he will sure teach us how to do when he told us not the do something (obvious huh..?). He told us to pray about everything instead of worrying, which does not give help to the particular thing but give disadvantages to the people who is worrying. Tell God what we need through praying, he will listen to our prayers of faith! Prayer is powerful, it is my self experience! For many times after we have pray for something, it ends up with that God had listened to our prayers and make the best preparation for us.

Time for a tiny testimonial:

For your information, I have been offered to study at Singapore in the campus of National University of Singapore (NUS). After we applied for the campus, we have prayed for it everyday and every night, and the result has come out to be optimistic! When I come to applying my accommodation of my hostel in NUS, we have prayed to God that he will prepare a good place for us, and guess what, God has provided not my first choice, not my second choice, not my third choice, but instead they(NUS) provided me a room which is far away from my faculty, kinda upset huh? Indeed, for the first moment I knew that. But due to the opinion of seniors, they said this place is definitely amazing and possess a quite nice environment, good in traffic, filled with convenient facilities. Thanks to the Lord!

So, why should we worry about things around us? God has prepared everything for us which are the best for us, though sometimes not what we wanted, but it definitely the best for us! Think about it!

Franco

Fight for God-Determined Perfection

13 June 2007 – Fight for God-Determined Perfection

Philippians 3:12

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Everyone has an unique plan that made by God, everyone of us do not come to the Earth merely by coincidences and “accidents”. It is destiny of God who brought you here, you are being chosen to be born in this time and in this generation, then you must live like this generation, think like this generation, and furthermore make an impact out of it!

In Paul’s letter to people in Philippi, he emphasized that he does not think that he has reached ultimate perfection. What does he mean by perfection? Of course, it includes our personality, our spiritual growth and spiritual health only, isn’t it not including the achievement that we had made? How about our work? How about our study? Indeed! Whatever we do, we must press on to possess that perfection that God has determined for us!

We have an ultimate destiny that God wanted us to achieve. Just spend some time for some examples:

• What is the destiny of Moses?

The destiny of Moses is to lead the Israelites to escape out of Egypt and became their leaders, but he cannot make it to Land of Canaan that the Lord wanted the Israelites to enter.

• What is the destiny of David?

David’s life plan is to replace King Saul to become the King of Israel, which is fully respected among all Israelites. We fight the battles that we never lose, in God’s hand, he put his hope in God, he puts his life in God. He became a wonderful psalmist too! But he was not chosen to built a temple for God.

• What is the destiny of Solomon?

Solomon inherits his father’s place to conquer the Israelites with wisdom, power, glory, wealth, and fame! He also has chosen to build the temple for the Lord!

Now do you clearly get what is meant by the destiny? We all have a divine plan from the Lord, he wanted us to achieve things that we can do and we can achieve, so that His will will be fulfilled. One thing that we ought to keep in mind, is that we might made mistakes sometimes, we should learn it from mistakes, and what should we do?

Phil 3:13-14

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Notice that it is the heavenly prize that we receive, so we have to run the race, and guess what? WIN THE PRIZE!!!!

Servant of Servants

12 June 2007 – Servant of Servants

1 Kings 12:7

“If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who inherit the position of the King of Israel, had made a wrong mistake for his position matters. He made himself a cruel ruler, an unreasonable leader and a selfish king! The main thing that causes the supporters of Rehoboam left into two tribes, i.e. Judah and Benjamin is because he is not willing to be a servant to his servants!

How can this be reasonable by saying servant of servants? How can servants be loyal to a servant? In 1 Kings, the old advisor of King Solomon advised Rehoboam to be a servant to those people. How can a respectful and a king full of pride become a servant to others? Impossible! This is what we thought often normally, we often raise ourselves up to a position that is higher than anyone, and refuse to be kind with the people under us, the workers and subordinate will start expressing their unsatisfactory to their boss which at the end refuse to follow the boss.

But if the story is the other way round, if the boss lowered himself among the subordinates, the subordinates will find their boss very kind person and in no words, they are willing to be a loyal subjects of the boss! It is just the difference of the attitude, which leads to different endings. This is the lesson that we ought to learn in life today.

Philipians 2:3-5

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

What is meant by the same attitude that Christ Jesus had? Or I put I like this, what is the attitude of Christ Jesus? He is a humble man, a gentle man; he did not utter a word of complaining when he was being humiliated and tortured. Though he was God, but he did not think an equality to God that people should honor him everywhere he went.

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Can you see that even God himself comes to serve people? Doing such not only for us to see, but he wants us to make him as an example to the people outside, your friends, colleagues, subordinates, parents, leader and all people around you. Once you make yourself low to others, others will become loyal subjects of you! At the end you are being honored back again! Without any argument!

Franco

Power of Love - Compassion Endures

11 June 2007 – Power of Love - Compassion Endures

Songs of Solomon 8:6

For love is as strong as death,
its jealousy (compassion) as enduring as the grave.
Love flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame.

In bible we have learnt about many teachings about God’s word, and it is unsurprisingly to know that the whole bible is teaching us about love one another, not only among brothers, among sisters, but of parental love, and love of spouse too. When I come in touch with the Songs of Solomon, I personally gave a comment on this book which is the most erotic book in the bible.

Indeed, it is not a bad thing after all; at least we can see that God really supports us to have a sex life, which is holy under his view, among married couples. The people who are having conversations in the Songs of Solomon are newly married couples, which their words are like nectar and very “disgusting” in another manner. (in Chinese, it is very 肉麻)

Songs of Songs 7:7-9

You are slender like a palm tree,
and your breasts are like its clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree
and take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like grape clusters,
and the fragrance of your breath like apples.
May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine,
flowing gently over lips and teeth.

From this I learnt that love is really no value, the power of love is great, even greater than death. Indeed, it is like what it says; you can die for someone because you love him/her, just as Jesus died for us 2000 years ago. Love is like a fire, burn with compassionate, which is enduring! If anyone would buy love with a price which causes him all his wealth, he will be scorned and humiliated, plus he will find himself unqualified to buy this, as true love cannot be bought by mere wealth.

So, what do we do now? Start practicing love, as it is a life lesson, which a child starts learning, and seniors still learning then. Be compassionate with the person your love, no matter what it means.

Franco

Enthusiasm

10 June 2007 – Enthusiasm

Ephesians 6:7

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Enthusiasm gives a meaning of a strong feeling of excitement and interest in something and a desire to become involved in it. In this bible reading today, I discovered the heart of a servant, which ought to respect the master, but work wholeheartedly, in other words, enthusiastically. We should be compassionate to become a servant, which can illustrate the worker in a company who is under a leader. It is important that we should have this kind of attitude, with compassion, our hearts will be keeping burning with the fire of motivation, and thus enthusiasm grow in the instant.

In the present society, it is very common to find out that there are many workers who did not enjoy their occupations, which treat them like a misery and torture, if it not the essentials to earn money, they won’t suffer like this. Why is this situation happening? Is it because their bosses treating them bad? No, in fact, most of the time, bosses are innocent; Is it the factor of their colleagues, with bad attitudes? It could be a factor, but it is not the major one. So, what is the major problem really existing?

The answer is most of the time we cannot deal with ourselves; it is the matter of self attitude. If your attitude is right, nothing can stop you from doing what you liked to do. On the contrary, with incorrect attitude, you will start getting bored and getting phobia of works. Hence, attitude is important for all of us!

Things do not change with the flow of time stream, but things change at the moment our thinking changes! This is the main emphasis of the attitude of one. Attitude can make us the different person we used to be, from worse to best! Get our focus on our attitude, rather than our surrounding circumstances, and sooner or later, you will find your work to be enjoyable, even if you are a worker! Making a difference in your office!

Franco