Devotional Time with God

The bible do taught me a radical idea: Love my enemies (Luke 6:35).  I often ask myself, how can God ask me to do that? I’ve been hurt. I’ve been mocked. I’ve been cast out.  I’ve been trampled upon.

How can I not seek revenge? How can I just sit here and take it – and worse, forgive and love them back?

First of all, God does bless the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), so I shouldn’t have enemies in the first place if I focus on making peace – with anyone.  Does it mean I don’t fight back when I’m being persecuted? Of course not – I have to defend myself because God has plans for me and He will rescue me in times of trouble, if it so fit His will.

I’m not the judge or executioner. I’m just in a journey to be more like Jesus – and He’s the ultimate peace maker, walking among sinners and enemies.

Jesus is love – and all I need is Jesus. He forgives my sin and wipe away my tears and hopelessness. Thus, all I need is love!

Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

1 Peter 4:8

I’m reminded of the small fruit tree in my backyard.  It was placed there because a gardener said in order for the tree to bear fruit, it has to be under the sun.  The more sun it gets, the more fruit it bears.  I’m part of a tree of life, God’s perfect life.  I’m just a vine, a branch, but I have the potential to bear a lot of fruit (John 15:5).  I will bear fruit if I’m constantly under Son of God’s light.  Jesus is my nourishment. Jesus is the reason I grow.

One way Jesus taught me to be fruitful is to show mercy and grace, like what He did to me.  My life is not safe unless I give it to Him.  As part of God’s family, we are commanded to love one another.  Therefore, I must show that same grace and mercy to others (Matthew 5:7).

Thank God for His mercy!

My life purpose is to make a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

Rick Warren – “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?”

My purpose in life is to serve God, with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul.  Jesus is the center of my life.  He is my pilot. I will go where he commands me to go. I am here to fulfill His purpose and do His will.

What comes naturally is my character growth and that, in itself, is a beneficial purpose. I can use it to serve others, especially my family and body of Christ.

Then I will share what I know to the world – if they want it. With this world increasingly hostile to Christians, it’s scary! I need my faith in Jesus to prevail. I need my God to guide and protect me.

My great commitment is to the Lord. I surrender all to Him.

We may make a lot of plans, but the Lord will do what he has decided.

Proverbs 19:21

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

I’ve been put on this earth to first know God, worship God, and to love and serve others. The measure of my rewards in heaven is dependent on how much love and service I’ve given to others.  For this, I must take care of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and also my “enemies”.  I must use my skills and talents to be helpful.

I’m made for service.

Living in this world is not easy. People are not like me. They don’t even like me. Most tolerate each other, because that’s the decent thing to do.

But the bible is clear that we are to love one another, especially with other believers. Jesus has fellowship with His 12 disciples, so He modeled the requirement of being in a community. He constantly be with others, helping others.

So should I!

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:7

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: 13

These are the 3 things I take to heaven: my faith, hope, and love. They’re kept inside me. They are how my character is formed. I won’t need my house or money. I will take the love that I have in family, friends, and God with me to eternity.  I won’t need anything else.

I will make sure I love God and other people in this world.  It won’t be easy – for there will be temptations from the devil that will divert my focus and priority.  But with God’s strength and grace, I will succeed in my highest achievement: Love.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:4-6

How rich am I?  If I measure my wealth from the material things I own, I’m not doing so bad.  But that’s never enough. Worse, my money doesn’t last and I can’t take it with me when I’m dead!  So what fills me up? What fulfills my deepest longing needs?

It’s relationship. Relationship with my daughter, my wife, my family, my friends… and especially my godly friends, who believes in Jesus as their personal lord and savior!  I am made to belong in God’s family, for he has predestined me to be with Him and His family in heaven.

I look forward to take my love to heaven and meet my brothers and sisters, in Christ!

It’s so wonderful to see my daughter grows, from a tiny baby into the active kid that she is now. I went through her cute, cuddly, crying, or cranky moments. Throughout all of them, I never stopped loving her. I never stopped to deny her to love me back. I never abandoned her.

I’m always there for her.  I know this because she trusts me, completely. She knows she can depend on me. I can’t be that far away from her. I will always take care of her.

Drawing from this experience, I know God wants me to be close to Him. I know God wants me to trust him, completely. I know God loves me, no matter what. In turn, I’ll love Him back.  That’s how I make God smile, as He takes pleasure in my devotion to Him, no matter where I am, no matter what the circumstances might be.

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

2 Corinthians 5: 9

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalms 149:4

I was made of His image. I experience feelings what God feels. God does take pleasure on His creation, just as I have with the stuff I created. I can only imagine what it would be like if I can make something living – and the closest that I can experience was the birth of my daughter. That was pure joy, and it’s still a pleasure watching her grow. That pride, seeing my child succeed is exactly what God will feel when I, His creation, also succeed.

I give all the credit to God, for my love and success are all for His glory!

This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.

1 John 2:17

Many times I closed my eyes, before I go to sleep, and wondered if I’ll ever wake up.  First of all, I thank God that I wake up every morning, to a brand new day, and new challenges. Meditating over the word of God, I realize this life is only temporary. I have a greater purpose – to be with God, forever.  I’m here on this earth to prepare for eternity.  To love, as Jesus loves.  To care, like Jesus cares.  To worship God, with all my heart.

My life is different once I know I’m made for eternity.  My focus is to do God’s will – to represent love, because God is love.