God's yoke.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

As i SMS-ed Jeremy and Beng, two dear loved ones of mine, this verse came to mind. One has been handling 4 test all within this week, while the other is just coming to the end of 2 weeks of grueling prelim examinations. But praise be to the Lord for His beckoning call to come unto Him for rest in Matthew Chapter 11:28-30!

For those who are encountering tough periods of their lifes, I would most delightedly tell you that you don't have to bear it on your very own. Fact is, we often do, and whenever we do so, our burdens get so very heavy to bear! and sometimes we even see many people getting crushed by the pressure and burdens of life. Perhaps that explains the consistent occupancy rate at IMH. =)

But yes, Blessed is the Lord whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. Hmmm. doesn't it make you wonder what this verse means. Of course the first part sounds comforting enough, but if you would really come to comprehending what vs 29 and 30 means, you would be much more encouraged, like i was!

A yoke - God's yoke - is not intended to add to human burdens. Rather, it is intended to make burdens light. Burdens that are too heavy to be borne may be carried when the ox has a yoke! It is not the will of Jesus to add to our burdens. It is His will in Matthew 11:29-30 to make burdens lighter! So, in His infinite love and compassion He offers His yoke to us, to cast all our burdens and cares on it, in that the burden will be light, no matter how heavy it seems!

In 1 Peter 5:7, we are again asked to cast all our cares upon Him for He careth for us! Our Father in heaven is not a dead idol on a shelf, emotionless and merciless to the sufferings of His people. Our Father LOVES us before we even loved Him. Praise the Lord for we have a LOVING GOD. One who loves us enough to send His Son to die on the Cross for each and everyone of our terrible sins, and gave Him power over death and us, victory over sin! The Lord gives eternal life to those who believe, what more relief from our crushing burdens each day?

Enough of getting overwhelmed with your burdens, examinations, and problems. The Lord beckons you to come unto Him for rest! what are you waiting for?

His way is perfect

PSALMS 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him...


This verse is such a comfort to me especially when times get tough, and I find myself going through some extremely trying moments. Think of it! God's way is perfect. The word is "perfect" is not merely "good" or "okay", but flawless and best.

The Psalmist, David, was led by God to kill the Philistine Giant - Goliath, and instead of being recognized as someone who had rendered great service to the King, he was a victim of jealousy instead. After risking his life for the Israelite nation, time and again, he found himself in danger of being assassinated by King Saul! Now, David could have easily grumbled and complained. Instead, he often went to the Lord in praise. As a result, God never failed to deliver him from the hands of His enemies. Psalms 8:30 was written as a response to God's deliverance on the day God delivered him from his enemies.

How many of us have found ourselves in terrible circumstances? Stress, frustration, even sorrow and disappointment? That would be all of us. Now then, how many of us can be like David, and give God praise in the midst of our trials and difficulties, knowing that God's way is perfect?

Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." God's perfect way does have ONE pre-requisite - that you have to trust in Him with all your heart! Psalms 18:30 reiterates this point, in saying that God is a shield "to all who trust in Him".
Often times, when things turn out contrary to how we would like it to, we lean on our own human understanding, and try to find human solutions. In fact, this often happens when we abandon quiet time with our Father in heaven. This search for human solutions to our difficulties will mostly lead to even more frustration! In fact, most "solutions" are but temporal ones.

For Christians abiding in the Lord, the problems can be wholeheartedly committed to the Lord in prayer. And God, whose way is perfect, will at ALL TIMES lead you through your trial. And even if He doesn't, you will know more assuredly that there is a reason, a perfect reason, for His decision to leave you there for a while. Perhaps it's His refining fire! This is such a blessing once you’ve been through it. But whatever it is, for those who trust in God and abide in Him, we can draw assurance as King David did, from God's way that's perfect.

This definitely isn't, like what some skeptical people would say, an alternative for weak minded people who cannot make it on their own! David was a mighty warrior who could choose to survive on His own. But even he knew that only God could ultimately protect Him, and lead Him through safely.


Our self determined path can only lead us to disappointment and sorrow, time and again. Why won't you humbly submit yourself to God's perfect way?

Stuck in the ditch?

ROMANS 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I sometimes wonder why, eventhough i am abiding in the Lord, i still find myself stuck in the ditch. Often enough, i am sure many of us find ourselves in ditches and wonder why we are so stuck, eventhough we're abiding in the Lord.

Somehow, God led me to being stuck in the rain at a swimming pool today, and as i lifted up a book i mindlessly threw into my bag as i left my house for my exercise, God moved me not only to tears in the pouring rain, He made me realize that things work according to God's programme, not ours. And even if He choses to stick in right in a ditch, He has His great and sovereign purposes for doing so.

Instead of relating how God spoke to me through Dr Bob Jones Snr's book "Comments on Here and Hereafter", i think i'll the Spirit speak to you Himself, through a short account by Dr Bob Snr, a man of God, and the founder of Bob Jones University.

------

["I" being the author himself]

Years ago out on a speaking your in North Alabama i closed the week one Friday night in a lovely little town. I was tired. I had been speaking three times a day for several weeks. After i went to my room from the auditorium where i had addressed a large crowd, i got in bed and remembered that next day i was to rest. i decided to go to Birmingham, have my car gone over, go to a hotel, and shut myself up for the entire day.

Next morning when i got up, it was pouring rain. I asked the Lord to let me get to Birmingham without any trouble. i had to travel over a dirt road. There was mud and clay. i had faith to believe the Lord would hear my prayer and i would reach Birmingham in safety and without delay. i got into the car and started.

i went down the country road about ten miles when my slipped into a ditch. i tried to get out of the ditch but i couldn't. i said to myself, "this is funny. i prayed with faith. i cannot understand why this happened. God said if i would ask in faith, He would hear my prayer." But it wasn't any use in arguing; i was in the ditch.

I got out in the pouring rain, walked up the road about fifty yards to a simple little country home. I went on the front porch and knocked at the door. Somebody said, "come in." There was amn with a lot of children around him. He was trying to dress a little fellow.

"I'm in the mud," I said, "and i thought you wouldn't mind getting a mule and pulling me out". He looked up at me, and tears were running down his face. "I'll help you as soon as i geet the children dressed," he said, "i am not much good at dressing children. I have never had this to do. I buried their mother yesterday."

My heart went out to him. There is nothing as pathetic as man trying to nurse little children. He just doesn't have that mother touch. i told him i would help him. i took a little girl in my lap. She was about two years old. Her little stockings were ragged, but i got them on. Her little shoes were worn. i put them on.

After we got the children dressed, i asked, as we started out of the house, "Are you a christian?", He said, "No, but my wife was. She prayed for me and talked to me alot of times. I ought to be a Christian. I have these children to raise."

I put my arm around him and said, "Well, we'll stop here and settle that." i had prayer with him and led him to Jesus. Then we got the car out of the mud and i said to myself, "i know why God stopped me. He wanted me to eelp Him put over His programme. That wife's prayer reached over the battlement of heaven and pushed my car of right there."

It is worth getting in the ditch to help God with His programme. It is worth going to jail as Paul had to do. It is worth suffering and torment. It is worth dying for.

--------

This account, together with Romans 8:18 only makes me more excited to suffer for our Father's purpose and mission. It sounds stupid to non-christians who do not know who God is and what He aims to achieve. But for us Christians, shouldn't we be excited and joyful if the Lord chooses to place us in a position of suffering? Well for me at least, the Spirit has indeed taught me, that in a circumstances of suffering, God's glory can be all the more manifested, and His purpose, with His person, made known to the ends of the earth.

Like Dr Bob said, to be able to help God with His programme, "is worth dying for". I am so encouraged and challenged! I really hope you are.

God's work.

ROMANS 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I can't help but think of this verse today. Nothing expressed today better then this verse. Today was the day of Amazing Race 3, an activity organised by the Youthie Committe of our church. I hope you were there!

And i can't help but stand back and gaze in awe at God's magnificient involvement in our activity. If only you could see how much He has done.

As it rained cats and dogs at noon, a dear friend of mine whose house i was at said, "see, its raining already, how's the activity going to be carried out?". Immediately, Matthew 4:39 came to mind. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." I gazed out of the balcony, and thought, "The Lord has it all in His hands."

I thought of the MANY unsaved souls attending the meetings today, and i couldn't help but think of 2 Corinthians 6:2. "For he says,"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." It continued in my mind, "God wants these souls saved. We prayed for these souls. God's work will be done."

In the middle of the game, the time appeared tight, and i started to worry about running on schedule. Romans 8:28 came to mind. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". I thought,"We love God so much! Things will turn out fine."

Indeed, as the activity drew to an end, i looked back and couldn't help but look up into the heavens, albeit after-rain skies, and proclaim God's glory, entering into His gates with thanksgiving and praise. All things HAD worked out perfectly, because it was HIS work.

Man can do THAT much. The rest lies entirely in the Lord's hand. I come to realize that no matter how much we do, our work will more then often turn out imperfect. But when it becomes God's work, nothing seems more perfect.

At the end of the activity, we did have a problem of two stolen bags. Two bags belonging to two faithful servants of the Lord. But what evil can thwart God's perfect work. The devil might attempt foolishly to hinder God's faithful servants, but for what he tries to take away, I know God gives back more. After all, doesn't all things work out for good to those who love God?

I know it does. do you?

The Rudder

EPHESIANS 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer.

I have found myself shocked sometimes at the amount of vulgarities that plague the speech of the present day teenagers. I have found myself even more affected when my tuition student, who proclaims that "God rawks" spouts the most unpleasant words that can possibly come out from a Christian's mouth.

It brings me back to ponder if others can identify Christ in my life through my very speech. Can others identify Christ in yours through what you speak as well?

The bible warns us sternly in James chapter 3, that our tongue is like the small rudder, which can turn large ships that are driven by fierce winds. (V4)It also speaks of our tongue being "a fire, a world of iniquity" (v6) and how it is "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison"! (v8)

As such, we need to be constantly guarding our speech as Ephesians 4:29 tells us. When Paul was passing through Ephesus in Acts chapter 19, on being filled with the Holy Spirit, the new disciples could not help but speak of God's kingdom. When Peter and John commanded a lame man to rise up and walk in the name of Christ Jesus, the Man went walking and leaping and praising God!

As Christians, have we forgotten the times we were diseased in so much sin? how were lame in our walk with Christ? how we were blind to His truths? Hasn't God healed us from all these infirmities? Why then are we not praising the Lord and making His name known every day through our speech? Instead, many of us are giving praise to the evil one through our corrupted speech.

It is important that we surrender our "rudder" fully to the Spirit daily, that the Holy Spirit might bear the Lord's testimony through what we say, in that our words might impart grace to the hearers and bear testimony of the Lord's gift of salvation.

We can never tame the tongue unless we submit it to the Lord's utility. As James said in verse 9 and 10 of chapter 3, our tongue can be used to bless our God and Father. But how can out of the mouth flow both blessings and cursing? We have to keep it in check.

Let us not defile our bodies, the temple of the living God, but bring glory unto our Father in heaven, with our small little rudder.

To whom be the Glory?

2 CORINTHIANS 10:17 But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

In the recent olympics, i recall a table tennis player running to hug her coach immediately after she won one of her matches. Obviously, her coach played a huge part in her victory, and most of the audiences would have identified that.

That table tennis player gave a huge part of her glory to her coach. It is definitely worth looking back and considering, "to whom do we give ours?".

1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 says, "For you were bought at a price. therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God's."
Just as most soccer players are "bought" to bring glory to it's team and the person who owns the team, so are we purchased with Christ's redeeming blood to give the Lord all glory and honour, and to make His Kingdom known unto all men.

That is what we have to grasp if we truly desire to live life as effective as those of the Christ's disciples. They healed the sick and made the lame to walk. [ACTS 3:6,7] But it always followed with thanksgiving, praise and honour to the Lord, not themselves.[ACTS 3:9].

Our Father in Heaven deserves far far more praise and glory than we can even imagine or understand! We often enter into our Christian lives and forget where we were once headed. Fact is, Christ not only redeemed us, He saved us from the pits of hell! And He decided to involve us on mission with Him, so we might make Him name known to the ends of the earth! I find that exciting. Do you? What ingrates we would be to glory in ourselves each time victory is claimed.

Let us wholeheartedly glory in Our Father who gives us all things good.

To God be the Glory great things He has done
So loved He the World that He gave us His son
Who yielded His life as atonement for Sin
And opened the lifegate that all may go in!

Seek and Hide.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have i hidden in my heart, that i might not sin against Thee.

Once a friend of mine asked me to do him a favour on my way to school the next day. He requested that i passed a message to another of our mutual friends. i found myself repeating His instructions to myself again and again before i was sure i would remember it the next day.

I'm sure many of you would have done the same before. Perhaps it was your mother's instructions to heat up the food she prepared, or it was something important you had to remember. But you hid that particular instruction or information right in the depths of your mind so you would be able to carry out what was necessary.

As we enter into the Kingdom of God as His children, we become His chosen people as the Israelites were. Well, God told the Israelites then, and it still does apply to us, that we should "be Holy, for I the Lord your God am Holy." [LEVITICUS 19:2] Unfortunately, the Israelites fell repeated into idolatry and sin. I wouldn't be surprised! For the bible tells us that our hearts are "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" [JEREMIAH 17:9].
The Lord however is all knowing and all merciful, and He knows our weaknesses in our flesh. We not only have the Holy Spirit, we have God's word to remind us of God's holiness and the need to remain holy because He is holy.

The Psalmist, King David, wrote most appropriately in Psalms 119:2 that we ought to hide God's word in our heart, that we might not sin against our Father in Heaven. That of course, is not possible unless we SEEK God's word for promises that we can claim on for victory over Sin.

Promises like "My Grace is all sufficient for you" [2 CORINTHIANS 12:9] and "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." [JAMES 4:7] has kept me from sin so many times! and i'm sure the Bible caters to your need as well.

Let us truly seek His word on a daily basis, in order to hide His words in our hearts, that we might remain holy and acceptable in God's sight.