Devotional Time with God

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

Does knowing God’s word and understanding what He wants is all I need to know?  Of course not.  Firstly, God has a much better purpose for me. The only way I can fulfill this purpose is by doing His will. I do the work, not to get as much credit for myself.  The work needs to be done with God’s love, not mean spirited, nor with complaints. The work needs to be done with the knowledge that it’s God’s command, not my selfish desire to be seen as wise.

In Mark 9:33-35, Jesus was asked who, among the disciples, were the greatest. His answer was simply whoever is last and servant of all, is the best.

It’s quintessential Jesus. I have a pride to want to be the best in everything. I want to be recognized as someone who leads the way. I want to be first in line.  But Jesus is always humble. He never wanted to be famous. He only wanted to serve humanity. He only wants us to serve each other.

God’s promise is to make me better if I serve others and be humble.

I can’t be better in God’s eye if I only serve myself. I have to change my attitude and be humble, and serve others.  It’s also His command, indirectly.  It is also Jesus’ great example, as He’s the one who’s willing to sacrifice himself to save humanity.

I pray that God gives me strength to be able to resist the temptation of pride. The temptation to be above everyone else and not be sympathetic to others. I pray that God gives me an overwhelming love so I may see others without contempt.

I am thankful God is with me. I am thankful for Jesus.  I am last, so Jesus can be first in my life.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18

When I hear the word “law”, I recall other words like, strict, constrained, abuse, captivity – basically, the opposite of freedom.  It’s refreshing to see how the Bible calls God’s law as wonderful. God’s law is here to protect me. It gives me comfort in knowing that I’ll be doing the right thing. It gives me guidance that I’m heading in the right direction.

So how do I follow God’s law? Just open my eyes. Open my eyes so I can see God’s miracles. Open my eyes so I can see God’s here to help us.  Open my eyes so I can see God’s purpose for my life.

Like Jesus’ parable of the leper, Mark 1:40-45, I probably would not be able to contain my joy and happiness when Jesus heal my sickness.  I would shout it out to the world. Tell everyone. God’s miracle has to be shared. God needs to be known.

When my eyes are open, my heart is open. When I receive God in my heart, I’ll have no trouble sharing Him to the world.

To be a Christian, I have to be like Jesus Christ.  To be like Jesus, I have to love like Him. He’s kind and gentle with others, believers and non-believers alike.  Even to those who mocked and beat Him!

It’s tough to love others, especially when they don’t love me back.  But it is commanded (Galatians 5:14).  It’s what God’s love is all about.  God uses others to mold my character and to test my faith.

How I behave around others is important too:

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

Colossians 4:5-6

It’s all about love – loving God, and loving others.

All of my life, I see my parents try hard to accumulate wealth.  They became wealthy, but had no time for family.  We were taken care of financially, but we were emotionally empty.  Now that I have my own family, I vowed not to fall into that trap.  I may be financially OK, but at least I can come home every night and weekends with my wife and kid.  We can still go vacation together and feel very close to each other.

The bible tells me that my “life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15). This world is fleeting.  It will come to pass and I’ll be with God after all of my days here.  Accumulation of possessions will be meaningless in heaven.

I need to accumulate love.  Love for my family, others, and that of the Father in heaven.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father  is not in you.   For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17

A child needs to take a risk in this world.   Not the destructive kind, but a healthy one.  Risks such as not going along with the crowd, not easily influenced by the media (or what is “cool”).  Healthy risk is doing what God says, despite of worldly opinions.

With risk, there’s adventure.  Trying something new and sometimes fail at it.  Having the willingness to change for the better, according to God’s will, is another reason to keep going.  My child don’t always stay in her own comfort zone.  God will always challenge her to be someone greater.

My job, as a parent, is to encourage and support her, with the help of the holy spirit:

If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

John 14:15-17

It’s an adventure of a lifetime.

One of the first thing I do when I get back from work is to kiss my wife and hug my child.  Always.  It’s a tradition that started with Dad because he used to be away, a lot.  I remembered I was so happy to finally see him coming home from business trips, that I would run and hug him.   I didn’t know exactly how it felt until my child does the same for me.

Children needs love.  Lots of it!  My daughter certainly couldn’t get enough of it.  I have to give her everything, from attention, compliments, and love.  She needs to know that I love her.  By hugging and kissing her, it’s the least I can do.

It’s also easier to discipline my child with love.  In every disciplinary action, there’s always a purpose: To protect, out of love.   She will know my expectations.

There are times when she will stumble.  As parents, we’ll be there to pick her back up.  I’ll never give up on her because I love her!

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.

Psalm 127:3

God commands me to teach my child to love God will all our heart, soul, and strength.   It’s something that I must do for God, for it is good for me, as well as my children.

Just as God has a purpose for me, I must intentionally raise my children to have a purpose, in God.

God’s way fit in every home, every parent, and every child.

It’s not easy being a parent.  God is here to help.  By loving Him first, nothing is as tough as it seems.

There are many motivations when it comes to “serve” someone.  There’s the obvious one: money – straight up give me dollar bills for the value I gave you.  There’s to impress another person/people – I want to be known and famous.

And then there’s serving because of genuine love.

The bible says:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

The sincerity of love will bring out the need to serve others.  That’s what God wired us to do.  That’s my purpose.  As a father, I’m here to serve the needs of my wife and kid.  In my small group, I’m here to serve my fellow Christians.  In my community, I’m here to help my neighbors.  In this world, I’m here to be a good citizen.

I must serve another with LOVE!

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

aàstorgov (astorgos)

1. without natural affection
2. unsociable
3. inhuman
4. unloving

People are increasingly rude and unkind.  They have to be because they’re looking after themselves.  Affection and love are perceived as signs of weakness.  What is bad is considered “good”.  What is unkind is considered “cool”.  What is heartless is considered “unique”.

I long for the day when everyone teach their kids to be loving and affectionate to each other.  I’m certainly doing that to Kaitlyn.  She has to be sociable and always loving.  The way God is – always wanting to communicate with us and loves us, dearly.

For people will be… without love…

2 Timothy 3:2-3