Love is Essential for True Humanity - Meaning of life

Aim: PArts band members will be challenged to live a life that is pleasing to God in their speech, actions and lifestyle in school.

3 Main Points:

1. Men everywhere are trying to find the significance of being human

2. All the knowledge and all the religious faith in the world will not give a true and ultimate evaluation of human life. Only love will do that.

3. We cannot discover the true worth of human existence without love

Introduction

I’m sure most of us, if not all, have asked ourselves this question: What is the meaning to life? As I was preparing for this devotion, I have come to understand, that as Christians, we don’t have to search far in order to find an answer to that question. Like many of our friends who are not yet believers, we can be busy searching for that answer by supporting causes (Like saving the whales etc.), finding bf and gfs, giving to charity, mugging and chionging our projects and even just trying to be the nicest and happiest person in school, but if we search everywhere else but upwards, we will never truly find an answer.

As Christians, we must first come to terms that we are God’s creation and He as Creator, is totally sovereign over our lives. Therefore, we must recognize that it is not us, not our parents, not our teachers and not our friends, but only Him who determines our purpose in life.

So what indeed is our purpose in life?

For today’s devotion we will be looking at 3 main points.

1. What is our purpose in life

2. How should knowing that purpose affect our lives

3. A hunger to share the gospel

1. What is our purpose in life

Matthew 22:37-39 gives us a very clear picture of what God wants us to do. To love God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, to love God in your speech, to love God in your actions, to love God in even your thoughts, to love God with all you are.

It might seem easy enough to say “Yeah sure! I can do all that, I mean God is like the awesome dude up there, He is all good man so there is no problem loving Him!” But then comes the next part of the passage which tells ‘…a second is like it. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ To love God is to love your neighbour as yourself.

That means, we are to love our neighbours with all our heart, soul, mind, speech, actions, thoughts and even all that we are.

So one question we can pause to ask ourselves right now is:

1. How have we been not loving the people around us with all the above criteria? What are some things we can change in our attitudes and behaviour to the “difficult” people in our lives?

2. How should knowing that purpose affect our lives

In every single way! When Christ died on the cross, He not only took the penalty of our sins, but He redeemed us by His saving grace that we might now depend on Him to help us change from our old ways and that is by trusting that His work on the cross was completed there and then. But not only that, if His work truly was completed, that means now we have a responsibility and that is to respond to what He tells us to do in complete obedience.

We won’t ever be able to perfectly love the people around us, at least not in this life time, but we must begin changing some of our stubborn old habits like picking on people’s weaknesses, joining in our other classmates in their gossiping, coarse language towards others and ultimately, seeking God’s words to know how exactly He wants us to live our lives. In that, we learn to truly be genuine to people not because we are trying to put on a false front, but because the call to love is a command and it is not a choice.

Another question to think about is:

1. Is there a person in your life who you find particularly difficult to relate with? Knowing that loving others is a command, how can you begin to show love to that person?

3. A hunger to share the gospel

Ultimately, the gospel (meaning God’s words, who He is and what He has done) is what changes lives. If we truly love the people around us, we will want point them back to the One who is Love. Our actions as insignificant as they are, reflect how we truly treasure who God is and when we finally have the opportunity to share the gospel, it is not out of obligation (like someone asking you to do it), rather, it is because you have truly been convicted that the gospel alone can save and transform lives.

Final Challenge:

Sharing the gospel is not just a one off thing of telling the gospel message, but it is a whole life lived out in love with God.

1. Think of 2 friends that you want to start sharing the gospel with, invite them for the event

2. In what you have learnt from today’s devotion, pray and ask God for help in loving Him and the people around you and ask Him to challenge you to live a life that honours Him with all that you are

Worship Is an End in Itself

Worship Is an End in Itself: "Worship Is an End in Itself on DesiringGod.org"

What the Lord gives, let it be used for His glory alone

I've explained it a million times, but I realize that words alone can never show you the heartbeat of what I do. Now, I put it in my mind that I will continue to fight for what I truly treasure, not compromising the truths that God has revealed to me and has convicted me off. If to live means to suffer, let me die so that this suffering might be an indication that I am alive in God alone.

2 Timothy 1:8-10


Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus , who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel


The likes of Jim Elliot and his friends, the Apostles Paul, John and the rest of them, all have gone before me. Indeed when the question was asked, "What is this story you would lay down your life to tell?", what must have went through the minds of these people? Were they super Christians whom God gave more power or wisdom too? Were they but crazy old fools who were living for old traditions that are not practical for the times we are in? No! They were but fellow human beings - they felt pain, they were insulted and mocked at, they were lonely at times, people couldn't understand why they did what they did, no matter how they tried, somehow there seemed as if their work was fruitless and yet, they laboured on.


It is a joke to call myself a Christian, look at this people and but simply put in my minds that what they did were beyond what is expected of me as a Christian at this day and age.

What does it look like then, to truly live as one who treasures God and loves Him with my heart, mind and will?

Even as I venture off into the world of the media, let my walk speak loud and my words be true, that I do not treasure what everyone else considers as important if is not in relation to loving the LORD with my all. Don't get me wrong, as a student, I have put in my mind that I will treat every assignment as a service to God, not just doing my best, but using every opportunity I have as an experience to grow closer to Him.

Oh how can I show you, that my ministry is not a blind phase loyalty to an organisation, but to the God whom loved me so that He opened my eyes to truly see that there is so much to this life than worrying about which internship I'll get or whether I'll get into a good university.

If I were to die this day, would I come before the Father merely saying, "I have been a good and faithful student, I completed all my assignments on time, I exhausted all my time and energy into producing a work that is pleasing unto Your name, blessed be that I have written an essay that has gotten me a perfect GPA score."

What good is my GPA score if it is not in worship and service to the God who loves me? What good is it, that I gain the whole world, but lose my soul to eternal condemnation?

But still, it is painful that people can live for every other reason and people will applaud you, everything else matters, travelling the world, getting experience, making good contacts, having more money, not having to spend that money, everything else is so much important then coming back to the Father and taking a step closer to Him each new day? IT IS SICK! It just makes me feel nauseous, like I just want to lie on the ground, it's an feeling I cannot even begin to describe. I'm not even trying to hold my tears back, because I am just so disgusted, that my tears demand to be held in, they are screaming not to be let out for such a ridiculous way of living as if you're no better than the ones who treat Jesus like His an optional character where if you are good, well then that's a bonus. Rubbish. I will live for nothing less than for what God is doing with the life He has given me.

Let me stand firm in my conviction that truly, the gospel is sufficient to live life truly as it is meant to be and because of that, I'll continue to live my life for God alone be it whether you look down on me, be it whether you think I'm a fool, be it whether you see me as stubborn, for I serve one master alone and that is God above who has saved me not for condemnation, but for a life where my joy is found in Him alone because of His saving grace, and the faith in which I can now live, alive.

With each passing day... I realise that there really is but only one way to live our lives...
It's not that it comes as a suprise, but it is still amazing none the less...
To know and love and amazing God
What more could anyone ask for?
That Christ is the guarantor and the guarantee of our faith
What can I do, but respond in trust and obedience...
Each moment, Each passing moment, Each passing vibrant moment
You have brought me a reason, to find joy in Your fullness....

All Because Of Jesus I'm Truly Alive and Free

The power of the Gospel
So far beyond comprehension
That even the apostles
Died with full satisfaction

Oh how can I stand and not say
That You are all that I ever need
For every passing day
I remember Your sovereign creed

That You died a death which took away
Not only wrath but for us to live
In seeking Your will through only Your way
For all I have is but what You give

Tasted of Your word so freely given
I'll testify Your love in every season
Not by words or work alone
But in faith Your life to atone

Matthew 6:25-34

I was thinking of what to say, how to encourage a fellow mate in Christ but yet... I felt so paralyzed, I didn't know what to say, I didn't know how to say it but one thing was for sure,
I didn't want to say something that I couldn't believe in.
But as I prayed, God reveled to me this passage and I realised, that all I could do was to let you read it for yourself and pray that God will minister to you through His word! To trust that God's words are sufficient enough for us to live our lives faithfully....

Haha, I was quite pleased when I realised that my BS contact actually read my blog! Now I feel a stronger need to share the many lessons I've learnt with him/them here as well! I pray that God will continue to help me to be a friend.. no a brother to them, walking alongside with them, not any higher, not any lower, but just as they are - A man of God, redeemed through the blood of Christ.

Even as I continued to read on the MRT, my mind wandered off so easily, but Your word sustained me.
Recently, I had been feeling rather discouraged that I really did not know many things about You. But this passage really encouraged me -

John 3:25-36

    Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him,"Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness -look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him." (At this point of time I was thinking [Jokingly of course {So cool, a thought within a thought |Inception?!|}]jealous much?!) John answered (Dum dum dum!~), "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease." He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.


Well, that pretty much sums up my pointless, well actually not pointless, but emo-encouraging questions!
But the key here is not to just say hey I won't understand everything, so it's time to DIE! Rather, trust in all that God continues to reveal so graciously through people and through His word, relying on His wisdom to truly live.

One thing I would like to encourage everyone to do, is to continue to share the gospel. For if we truly have been convicted of what we have heard which is of God, let us trust that His word will speak to His people, but we, might so just be the channel through which God uses to bring His word to them! :)

Servants of the Gospel

I fear going back to school... I don't want to go back.
Why?
I... Don't want to lose myself... It's so easy to just caught up in all the different things in life and forget... Forget God.
I know I am to honour God in my life, my whole life, with all I am, with who I am, with what I say and even with what I do. That I continue to be His light that shines for man to see His glory, that even as I undertake projects and group work, I'll continue to share His love with the people around me. But, it just seems so hard... So hard to do the things I want to do, to only live my life for Him. But living my life for Him I know, is not just hiding behind doing Christian things for Christian people. That's not how God created us to live. He created us, to recognise that there indeed, is more to this life, in life itself. I am not of the world but yet, I am still in the world.

Oh Father, oh God,


Let my walk speak loud
And my words be true
Let my life be whole
With my eyes on you
Lord I'm stepping out
From the comfort zone
Letting go of me,
Holding onto You

Freedom comes
When I call You Lord
You are Lord my God

You are the centre of it all,
The universe declares in awe
Your majesty
I surrender all
I make you
The centre of my life
Lord, I respond with all I am
you placed in me the song
Of heavens melody
Your Majesty
I live to sing Your song

I have found Your peace
It replaces any fear
You have done it all
I can trust in you
So I'm stepping out
From the comfort zone
Letting go of me
Holding onto you

This is your song not mine
It is your song that bring healing to this land
This is your song not mine
It is your song that brings feedom
Freedom comes, when I call you Lord
Freedom comes, when I call you Lord
You are Lord, my God
You are the song
You are the majesty
I live to sing your song
Your majesty
I live to sing Your song