Love in Action: My Life, A Living Sacrifice (session 6)

(contributed by Bro Adrian)

Question 1 – What is one of the greatest sacrifices another person has made for you?

I am sure that you know that the biblically correct answer is Jesus… But the author says that this is not the intention of this question.

Question2 – How does Hebrews 13:11-16 portray a) animal sacrifices, b) the sacrifice of Jesus and c) the sacrifice we should offer to God?

a) In OT times, shedding of animals’ blood were offered as a sacrifice for sins but the animals are burnt outside the camp..

b) Similarities were drawn between the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins who was crucified outside the city..

c) In the Good News bible, “Let us, then, go to him outside the camp and share his shame”… KJV says “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”

What does “outside the camp” mean? Could it mean that we are to be separated from the world and its way of thinking and acting? Does it mean leaving the Old Covenant behind and taking on the New Covenant?

How about “share his shame” or “bearing his reproach”? The crucifixion of Christ is a humiliating act. Are we being called to endure humiliation for our faith as John 15:18 reads "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Question 3 – What are the results of the sacrifice of Jesus?

When a prisoner escaped from the camp in Auschwitz, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape. One of the 10 selected to die, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry: My wife! My children! I will never see them again! At this Maximilian Kolbe (a Polish priest) stepped forward, took off his cap, and stood before the commandant and said, 'I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children.' His request was granted ...

Gajowniczek later recalled:

'I could only thank him with my eyes. I was stunned and could hardly grasp what was going on. The immensity of it: I, the condemned, am to live and someone else willingly and voluntarily offers his life for me - a stranger. Is this some dream?

I was put back into my place without having had time to say anything to Maximilian Kolbe. I was saved. And I owe to him the fact that I could tell you all this. The news quickly spread all round the camp. It was the first and the last time that such an incident happened in the whole history of Auschwitz.

For a long time I felt remorse when I thought of Maximilian. By allowing myself to be saved, I had signed his death warrant. But now, on reflection, I understood that a man like him could not have done otherwise. Perhaps he thought that as a priest his place was beside the condemned men to help them keep hope. In fact he was with them to the last.'‘

When I was introduced to the above historical event, it moves the cross from my head to my heart. Whilst it should have been in my heart decades earlier; but I have to humbly accept that it is better late than never…

Sacrifice of our lips

Praising God is not just thanking Him for all the good things which He has blessed us with but also for being our guide, bringing opportunities to share of His goodness, etc…

Nicky Gumbel says “When we appreciate what good news the gospel is, we shall be bursting to tell others.”

Sacrifice of our hands

This involves our spiritual gifts as well as our talents and skills in doing good for others…

Sacrifice of our resources

Whilst everything we have is from God but there is a call to good stewardship. So, simply giving it all away and hoping that it will end up in the right place is not, in my mind, good stewardship. And not having any idea on what to do with your blessed resources, and not consulting Him for directions, is neglecting our responsibility to “bear his reproach”…

To all those who thinks like me or worst (if that’s possible), my suggestion is to get yourself into an Alpha course as quickly as possible and start working with the jewels of His Kingdom…

Love In Action: Serving through sharing. Session 5

(Contributed by: Bro Adrian)

“When a person is filled with Christ, springs of living water will refuel, refresh, and refurbish parched lives.”

Is this so different from “Love your neighbour as yourself.”?

I suggest that it is alright to fill your life up first but never forget that you are filled only to bless others.

Sharing ourselves

Is there anyone with an empty cup? I suggest that some people may be lacking in creativity in sharing what they have in their cup…..

And possibly not calling upon Our Father to unlock His wealth…

Don’t wait for your cup to be full to start sharing…

Sharing our skills, talents, and abilities

If only we look at what we are blessed with rather than what we don’t have, we will see a wonderful inventory from which we can share from…

Sometimes, people are looking at spiritual gifts only but forgot that whatever they have is also from Him.

I was once told by a church leader (not from NCA) that the problem with me is that I am too educated. To me, being studious is a blessing… And I can not only share on studying methods but also my acquired knowledge and skills.

BUT stereotyping people puts a straight jacket on them which prevents them from serving from their full range of blessings…

All of us have something to share and we should work together to discover these much need skills, talents, and abilities…

Opportunities to share are abundant as well but sometimes we think that they are not spiritual enough so dismiss them… Simple mundane chores may be just what is needed to bring glory to God…

Sharing Our Material Resources

“When the love of God penetrates a heart, the idol of materialism falls and people become generous.”

“When the love of God penetrates a heart…” Isn’t that the crux of our faith? That relationship with our Father….

Before that, everything we do can be a chore… a ritual… meaningless…

The other day, a non-believer friend told me that all the church wants is your money… My reply was if you believe God created the world, why would He want your money? If you don’t give (return a portion of what you have inherited from Him), someone else will…

Do you think that all your children wants from you is your money? If that is the case, I dare say that there isn’t enough time spent on building that love relationship…

Having said that, I don’t think God would be impressed if we just give away our blessings without knowing how it is being used… That is not responsible stewardship…

Love in action: Experiencing the joy of serving. Session 1,2 & 3

Introduction

There is no doubt that to be “God-first” is the crown of our faith. However, just as the author say “Self interest is one of the few things that unifies us as a human race”, I wonder how many find to be “God-first” is a goal which one strives for but not achieve it totally.

The author lists some of the obvious “Me-first” concerns such as pleasure, concerns, net worth, look good, and feel good; but there are many subtle forms which often go unnoticed and they include self pity, attention seeking, etc…

These are all negative “Me-first” attitudes…

Session 1 – Exposing the “Me-First” Mind-Set

I agree with the author that “Me-first” is “alive and thriving” and that in many ways “this perverted and backward view of life is leading to modern madness”.

However, when we accepted Jesus as our Saviour, what was on our minds? I asked this question to a Christian brother and the answer was salvation. Isn’t that “Me-first” of a positive kind?

Expanding from there, is it not possible to adopt an attitude that drives us to first in service to the Lord, serving others, caring for the sick, etc…

Is it not possible to use one of the few things which “unifies us as a human race” to be first in the things of God?

Session 2 – Breaking The Back Of Self-Centeredness

“Yet even as Jesus drew near the end of His earthly ministry, His disciples had still not gotten the point.” shows how difficult it is to shake off the core of human kind and suggests that it is better to do something positive along the way to developing “God-first” attitude instead of waiting for the ultimate (ideal) to happen…

I am not as concern about the obvious “Me-first” attitudes as the subtle forms. I am sure that someone has done you wrong and it hurts but don’t you think that it hurts hanging on the cross? And I am glad that He didn’t jump off the cross…

Session 3 – Gifted To Serve

In contrast to the previous sessions, Session 3 is a very, very, very positive step forward. I guess it depends who is the target audience of this book.

When we attach the “core” of human beings, it instills guilt. In fact, human beings are social beings and have a desire for relationships in family, community, state, nation, and the world. In maintaining those relationships, individuals have to make sacrifices.

Indeed, many (if not most) of us became believers because He first love us and or for our salvation in Christ. This is a “Me-first” mentality. However, having come into the faith, we should be “encouraged” to exercise that faith in service unto Him.

“God-first” mentality should be introduced as an encouragement to service not as condemnation of “Me-first” mentality.

Sometimes, we spend time waiting for spiritual gifts before we serve but the reality (as expressed in the session) is that we are already gifted for service as part of God’s design and plan. What skills we lack individually, we have in the team or corporate (God’s church). Whilst we may have preferences on who we can work best with; but not being able to find someone whom you can work with is most likely to be a subtle form of “Me-first” mentality.

So, let us make it “Me-first” in service unto Him…

Contributed by: Bro Adrian Yong

Session 6: Contentment (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Ellis Loke)

Fill in the blank: I will be contented when ___________.

Maybe it is that latest smart phone, that classic monogrammed bag or that full-specs car or that month-long European holiday, or a promotion at work or having titles like “Doctor” or “Reverend” preceding our names.

Maybe it’s a friendship or a marriage, or the approval of our father/boss/friends.

Maybe we are hoping to get away from someone unpleasant: a nagging mother-in-law, a good-for-nothing brother, a friend who has betrayed your trust, a psychotic boss.

Our list goes on...

However, we need to know that contentment is NOT a result of another event. It is NOT a pursuit and it is NOT in the future. It is a decision we make NOW. Contentment is what we can be NOW.

I think this Calvin and Hobbes comic strip perfectly depicts what contentment is like. :)

Paul said: ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

We often think of contentment as what we could have. Or who we could or should be. Therefore, someone who is not contented is always restless, always conscious of his “lack”. He worries about his health, what he would eat or drink, what people would think of him. Nothing is ever enough.

So, he is always on the lookout for the next best things and is rarely satisfied. While he professes to be a Christian, his pursuit of life does not differ from someone who doesn’t know Christ: a lucrative career, financial safety, positions of influence and power – it seems like it does not matter if Christ isn’t part of the equation.

Paul added: People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9). We often forget that if we “seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto [us].” Matt 6:33

Paul is one person who has been through it all. He has the ultimate lineage credentials as a Jew and a very respectable position as a Pharisee, but he has also undergone some of the worst prison and torture treatment. He sums up his life by saying “… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil 4: 11-13)

On another hand, contentment is NOT about being complacent. Someone who is complacent is unmotivated and does not care for anything or anyone else. How do we differentiate contentment and complacency?

A person who is contented is grateful for what he has. He loves the simple joys of life (a hearty meal with family, a moment of solitude, being able to bless another person) and acknowledges that God provides for everything. A complacent person is full of self-pity and excuses. He believes that their static situation is as good as it gets and would not do anything to change, because change is unpleasant and he is not willing to pay the price to be better.

The writer of Hebrew exhorts us to “keep [our] lives free from the love of money and be content with what [we] have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ⁶So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Heb 13)

Contentment is a decision to be. We can be contented with only a shirt on our back. A poor person, as described by Proverbs, is someone who does not know how blessed he is: All the days of a poor person are wretched, but contentment is a feast without end (we all like this part, don't we? :)

Do count your blessings today and have a great week ahead!

(Ellis Loke)

Session 5: Endurance (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Cynthia Choi)

Endurance to me is quite a pretty strong word. At first, I thought patience and endurance are same. where we have to bear in a situation. But, the difference is Patience = having the ability to wait, whereas Endurance = having the ability to continue in doing something inspite of the difficult or unpleasant situations for quite a long time. Not denying that patience and endurance actually works hand in hand. Am sure without being patience, we won't be able to endure difficult situations.

Even the bible often mentions about endurance, hardships, etc. I remembered when I was in the 1st 3 years of marriage, it was tough, I meant really tough. Was having pain emotionally, physically tired (conceived after 2 months of marriage and husband wasn't there all the time, worked till very late) and somehow it affected me spiritually. Somehow, I thank God that I managed to pull thru that difficult stage of marriage and there were cries on and off and I guess this is endurance and not patience.

Where pain is involved and I guess it's for the good too as one will seek God earnestly in times of trouble. I believe God allows us to go thru difficult situation to make us mature and to grow closer to him everyday. Should our life is like a bed of roses, I don't think we need God at all.

Not only in family relationships, but pain can happen in relationships with others, work, ministries, spiritual warfare. We must not lose our focus when the world seems to be stumbling down because we have the victory in Him. We need to proclaim that.

James 5:10-11 NKJV) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. {11} Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

(Hebrews 12:1-4 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. {4} You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Romans 5:3-4 ESV) More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

We can be rest assured that we are not walking alone when trials or difficult situation comes. When I just accepted Christ, went thru persecutions, dad disallowed me to attend church, dad scolded and ridiculed by friends as 'Jesus freak'. I couldn't stand it anymore and as I was seeking the Lord, the scripture that caught my attention was from James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. I asked God 'What? Count it all joy? How to be joyful when I'm going thru these...it was like hell, hated it!!!'. Somehow, as I did not rebel and endured what I was going thru, things seemed to simmer down and dad allowed me to go to church and friends wasn't teasing me anymore. All these happened unexpectedly and our Father in Heaven does know when the right time comes. Of course, I was overjoyed.

To conclude, many of us may be going thru some hard times one way or another, we can say 'I give up' or 'I press on for You, Jesus'. The decision is in our hands. Prayerfully it will be pressing on for Jesus as we want to give glory and honor to Him at the end of the day and let's trample on the scorpions and say 'Shooo! Devil'. Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

(Cynthia Choi)

Session 4: Patience (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Adrian Yong)

I can associate with the author when he says “Patience runs contrary to my temperament”.

But I took great pride when Cassandra’s god-sister said “Adrian is so patient (explaining the different pasta and sauces to her kids). I would have told them to just eat it.”

So, what is patience ?

I have been told often that “Patience is a virtue” but that doesn’t tell me what it is.

Pr 19:11 (NIV) “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” and in KJV it reads “The discretion of man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression”.

Can patience be defined as deferment of anger ?

Does being patient means indifferent to situations ?

Does God get angry ?

When we don’t walk with God and deviate, what would God do ? Does He rebuke and discipline us ? Is His silence disapproval of our wrongs or departure from His ways ?

Is patience an alternative way of showing our disapproval to angry outbursts ?

Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…..”

If patience is a fruit of the Spirit; then, we should have it. But we need to exercise/practice it to develop it in us and for us.

Heb 6:12 “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised”

Heb 6:15 “And after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised”

Jas 5:7-11 “Patience in suffering”

From these three passages, patience is not about being indifferent and it does lead to definite outcomes.

In summary, I suggest to you that patience is not an attitude of indifference but an alternative way to rebuke and discipline without angry outbursts achieving definite outcomes. Just like the prodigal son, who did not receive support for his wayward ways, has finally decided to return to the patiently waiting father.

All of us have patience but we need to develop it further through God’s wisdom so that we gradually reduce incidences of angry outburst or rage...

God bless….

(Adrian Yong)

Session 3: Confidence (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Jackie Ng)

The meaning of confidence, as I checked in the dictionary.

1. freedom from doubt

I suppose we have heard (or made – since I, myself like to give such statement when ask to do some tasks) many of these statements before –

I don’t think I am good enough.

I don’t think Jesus could use a wretch like me.

No I can’t do that.

That’s doubt. It makes us depressed about who we are.

But we must remember that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Ps 139: 14), into His image. We are children of God, created by him, loved by him and redeemed by him. We are valuable and important to God or else Jesus will not have to pay such a high price to redeem us. Having to know all these facts, if we continue to have a distorted view of who we are, we will continue to live in uncertainty and fear, our view of the world and our place in it will be distorted as well. We have to set our mind on who we are in Christ as our Lord Jesus had set His mind on who he was while he was on earth 2000 years ago.

2. belief in one's own abilities

As what David had written in Psalm 139, God searched us and He knows us (v1), even before the foundation of the world, God had us in His mind. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb (v13). Hence, we are to believe that our abilities are God given abilities. Certainly, God’s grace is always sufficient for us when he called us to do something which we think is beyond our capabilities (not always true though since this is only our own perception to our capabilities).

Knowing the purpose for which we are here, setting our mind on God, believe in our abilities that was given by God and fully utilize it while on earth, that’s the basic calling for all the brothers and sisters in Christ!! Our favourite bible scripture “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Our confidence must be in God, and it has some differences as to how the world view of (self-)confidence. It is not about me; it is about our Lord Jesus Christ. “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. (Ephesians 2:9)