but by Grace

THIS DAY’S TEXT

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…

2 Timothy 1:6-8 (ESV)

THIS DAY’S REFLECTION 

Paul wrote the second letter to Timothy in prison, in the light of his imminent execution and death. Paul started out his second letter to Timothy by encouraging him to persevere amidst suffering for the cause of the Gospel of Christ.

This theme of endurance amidst trials and sufferiengs is built upon the ability of Timothy on “fanning into flame” the gifts of God to him. We know that when the Bible talks about gift, these are the talents and skills God has endowed to us. But Timothy had even bore a greater gift, that is being a pastor or a shepherd as evidenced by Paul’s laying of hands unto him.

We all have a gift. We all have unique abilities, unique talents. Some are good in math, some are in speech, while others in arts. These are the traits Paul calls Timothy to “fan into flame”. Yet, more than that, Timothy bears with him the Gospel of Christ. Fanning into flame for Timothy means to leverage his talents, skills and ablities for the cause of the Gospel of Christ.

Paul even made a startling contrast that in “fanning into flame” the gifts we have, we have to understand that what should envelop us is not the spirit, the thought, the feeling of fear, brought by seemingly hard task ahead, but rather the spirit of power, love and self control. Three things that will disicpline us as we “fan into flame” our gifts. And all these Paul knew are the reason why no one should be ashamed of the Gospel and testimony of Christ Jesus.

Hence, fanning into flame, means from a spark of fire, you fan it, you fuel it, you make it grow, you make it light, you make it shine. God’s desire is for us to see that His gifts, the talents, the skills and abilities we have are fully realized. God never intends anyone of us to live in the spirit of fear, fear of the future, fear of the difficulties ahead. But rather, God wants us to see that the future is a fully burning flame, when you have the fire, the flame, the light in your heart which is CHRIST.

So, if you are someone bearing the Gospel of Christ, fan the flame now. And, if you are someone who has not had the fire, the Gospel of Christ. I believe now is the time.

THIS DAY’S TEXT

³⁵ “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning”, …

Luke 12:35 (esv)

THIS DAY’S REFLECTION

The passage of Luke 12:35-40 tells us to be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ for it will happen unexpectedly. But interestingly, these words of Jesus Christ begin with a powerful command, “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning”. These are direct words of Jesus put in metaphors. These words are meant to be the present time we are living at. Jesus is addressing what we ought to do right now in our lives. What is implied in this statement of ‘staying dressed’ and ‘keep lamp burning’ is the idea that it should stay on, endure on until the time that it will be no longer needed to ‘stay dressed’ or ‘keep burning’. A person wouldn’t stay in dressed forever nor a lamp keep on burning forever, it will only last until its purpose has been served.

When we have become followers of Jesus Christ, we have put on a new ‘dress’, a Christian ‘dress’ and we have lit up a new ‘lamp’, a Christian ‘lamp’. We then become people with Christian ‘outfit’ and with Christian ‘flame’ burning. This Christian ‘dress’ and burning Christian ‘lamp’ is what Jesus is saying that we stay on and keep on in our lives.

Jesus tells us to stay and to keep them because Jesus knows it will not be easy, that is why he is direct in telling and encouraging us of this.

This same direct words were echoed to Job by the Lord in Job 40:6-7.

⁶Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
⁷ “Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.

The Lord told Job as well to ‘dress up for action’. And the fascinating thing with this that in the context of having ‘dressed up’, the Lord says “I will question you”. Our staying dressed up, yes is subjected to questioning and testing. Our Christian identity, values and character will be put in testing. And whether you have stayed ‘dressed up’ or not, it will be made known to the Lord as the Lord continued saying to Job, “you make it known to me”. The choice to fight on is yours.

The challenge to our Christian faith is a reality,and the Lord is encouraging us to stay on, to keep it and to endure it even if we feel we are about to loose the fight. Because winning this fight is the bigger reality.

At the last verses of the Book of Job we see the victory of Job and how God blessed him for keeping on and staying on.

¹⁰And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

Victory definitely and most importantly goes beyond our temporary lives on earth, for as the Lord said;

⁴⁰You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:40

Your readiness of being ‘dressed’ and ‘burning lamp’ therefore is what makes you prepared for that unexpected time when the Lord will come back to bring you with Him in eternal bliss. Yes, that is the purpose why we must stay on and keep on. To be with the Lord!

SO ARE YOU STILL DRESS UP AND BURNING?

THIS DAY’S TEXT

10 I (Nehemiah) also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. …. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service

Nehemiah 13:10-12,14 (ESV)

THIS DAY’S REFLECTION

The temple in Jerusalem was in chaos in this time of Nehemiah. Levites (priests) and singers (temple workers) fled away from the temple to look for a living elsewhere (because tithes which were supposed to be given to the temple were not given and tithes were also the source of their living). People were disobedient from giving their tithes to taking care of the House of God, the Temple. All Nehemiah can do was to exclaim “Why is the house of God forsaken?”.

There are times in our lives when giving has become so hard and ‘chaotic’. We choose to flee away from giving. We shut down the thoughts of responsibility and compassion in our hearts about giving as if we are hiding away from God. And this is giving not only in Church, but generosity in general, whether to a broke co-employee, to a beggar, to your relatives-in-need or randomly to anyone in need.

But Nehemiah didn’t let this prevail even more, he set everything to how it should be (verse 11b “And I gathered them together and set them in their stations”).  Levites and temple workers were back to their duties at the temple. Temple was organized once again. And giving, faithful giving of the people of God followed suit  (verse 12 “Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses”).

Yes, never let ‘hard’ giving prevail in you. Just like Nehemiah, set everything right. Set you finances right, set your lifestyle right. Then giving, just as how organized you have set things in your life, will also be organized.

So what now? you maybe asking. Well, make the prayer of Nehemiah your prayer.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service

The prayer of Nehemiah is not a prayer to boast before God the service he has done. But it is a prayer of a man confidently coming to God. He said “Remember me, O God”, a display of such confidence. And what’s amazing is that the display of his confidence went first before starting to ask from God “and do not wipe out my good deeds”. And this good deed is what he has done to make everyone return to generosity.

When we reflect on this, we see how one deed, one act such as giving can boost up our confidence in our relationship with God, and with people whom we have been generous with and with our church which we have been generous with as well. We have to see that giving boost us up in humility and confidence on how we view our relationship with people and our church. Ultimately,  It makes us come to God confidently knowing that we are faithful not only with our faith but  with our giving as well.

THIS DAY’S TEXT

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

THIS DAY’S REFLECTION

Chapters 13 and 14 up to 17 of the Book of John were the scenes and words of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Everything Jesus Christ was saying where like His last ‘will and testament’ because the next day He will be crucified to death. This was Jesus Christ’s last moment with His disciples. And when we talk about last moments of a soon-to-die person, most often than not, things that will be said are the most important that person would say. And this brought fear to the disciples.

This kind of fear and trouble that the disciples felt was not even the simple type, but the hardest kind. They have to face the reality that Jesus Christ, their Lord, master and leader, would die tomorrow. The thought that the very one thing they lean on would disappear by tomorrow in an instant, probably would not even sink in their hearts.

But the Lord knew of their troubles, knew of how grave their fears were. And He pointed out to them an assurance.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

At the very intense moment of the disciple’s fears and troubles, Jesus Christ comforted them, granted them peace in their hearts. And the Lord is saying this peace that I am giving you is not even close enough to the kind of peace you see in the world. It is the peace that comes from God. Not your ordinary peace, but the extraordinary PEACE.  The Lord did not allow troubles to consume them, that upon giving them peace, He said “ Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

Number of times, we are so bothered with our struggles, fears and troubles that we forget that the Lord Himself said that in that moment when we feel and know that everything seems to fall apart, the Lord says “My peace I give you“. And you just don’t know that what would make the difference after all is the peace from God.

On those moments of fall and failure, remember one of the ‘last will and testaments’ of Jesus Christ. Claim it and receive it.

So, do you want to settle for the mediocre and ordinary? Or do you want the extraordinary PEACE?

THEN, BE WITH JESUS CHRIST AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE!