I have updated first blog too! Come to My Life Blog: SPalace
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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Be a role model

Titus 2:7-8
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say to you.




Indeed, we should practice to have a role model in our daily lives. As christian in marketplace and school, it is our mandate to be the salt and the light of the world. To be the salt of the world, we should influence others in a godly way, restore things back to the original purpose according to God's principle. Being a salt, Jesus had specially said the risk or the consequence of not being a good salt in the world, we would be threw down and trampled by others. As a result, to be a starting point to influence others, it is important to live our lives as a role model.

Here are some ways we can do so (Titus 2:7-8):
1) Showing integrity
In our works, we should show integrity. Honesty is not the best policy, it is THE policy. In Matthew 5:37, "But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." No matter if you are an engineer or other professions, or just being a normal worker, integrity is of utmost paramount.

2) Showing reverence
In greek, the word 'reverence' is σεμνότης(Semnotes) which means seriousness. Take everything serious and be as detail as possible. Do not lightly see a problem or an issue because that might influence someone's life or it might make large contributions on your works. In all projects and assignments in schools, work hard with all you can and in group projects, be a good member or a good group leader, make healthy contributions to the group. Be aware to the fine details.

3) Showing incorruptible and sound speech
In other words, speak wisely, when you speak, speak with edification. Speak in a way that build up other's lives. The life and death is in the power of tongues, you can change someone's life by saying things to them.


By doing this, bible says, our opponents, will be ashamed. I believe this is the time where your influence come in, their heart will open up to you and you can work as the salt and the light of the world.

Be a role model!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fight a Good Fight!

1 Timothy 6:11-12
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.



Faith is a fight! It is not thing which you will get directly from God or straight away after you have believed. In fact the journey of faith begins since the point of our salvation, it is just a beginning.

Over here Paul actually taught Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, means we should fight for it, we may have struggles, we may have moments of faithlessness, we have moments of difficulties and disbeliefs. Despite all these things, we must fight the good fight of faith, so that our enemies (Satan) will not have victory over us because God is already in victory!

There are a few aspects that you need to fight for (verse 11):
1) Righteousness
2) Godliness
3) Faith
4) Love
5) Patience
6) Gentleness
7) Self-control, etc

It is an irony but a truth that your faith can only be seen when you go through faithless moments. Your strength can only be seen when you are weak. Same applies for those things which we should fight for.

You can only be more righteous after you went through moments when you can choose not to be righteous;
You can only be more godly after you went through moments when you can choose not to be godly;
You can only be more faithful after you went through moments when you can choose not to be faithful;
You can only be more loving after you went through moments when you can choose not to be love;
You can only be more patient after you went through moments when you can choose to be impatient;
You can only be more gentle after you went through moments when you can choose to be not gentle;

Let's fight for them, and after those crisis and critical moments, I believe we will all get stronger and stronger and continue to serve in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Prioritize your Life

1 Timothy 3:5
For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?



There are many talks, seminars, etc which talks about how to manage your time and how to make a good priority. There are many ways or so-called models to prioritize your personal life.
For a worker, the first priority might be his work, so he might spend relatively more time in the workplace than in the family;
For a student, the first priority normally would be his study, so he might spend relatively more time in the library or in study room to study rather than going out to play or spending time with family too.
Of course, it can be easily known that this is not a good way to prioritize one's life.

I have known many Christians who suffers from the struggle between their works, ministries, studies over the relationship with God. Many of them say they have 'no time' for God, I am too tired after work, I am too busy and it is just not possible to read the bible or more importantly, to pray.

God has actually provided us a clear priority for our live, let us look to nowhere else but to the bible.

1) In the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:2, God said,"You shall have no other gods before Me." Here, God does not only refer to physical idols, but also other things which occupy your life so much at which it has become your 'god'. We shall NOT put them in front of God!

2) Paul said, in 1 Timothy 3:5, that a man should not put the church of God (Ministry) or work in front of family. Ministry of God is NOT the same with God, in ministry, you are serving God and people with your works, you cannot build personal relationship with him this way. Same with our works, studies, we cannot build relationship with our families even if we say, "I am working because I want to serve my family, I want to provide money to them" or "I am studying now so that I could get a good job and help my family in finances in the future". You should put your family the 2nd after God.

To further emphasize on family in eyes of God. In Ten Commandments, the first 4 are about God, the 5th one is about honoring your father and mother. Hence, we should put our family after God before our minitries, works come in!


In summary, the priority God wants us to have is:
1) God
2) Family
3) Ministry
4) Work
5) etc..

With this, I am sure God will bless and empower us in every ways of our lives. I am a good testimony in study and in family relationship and I followed this priority in my life.

For if you seek the kingdom of God first, all things will be added unto us.
For if you honor your father and mother, you will live long and prosperous on earth.

Let's prioritize ourselves again!