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Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does the passage tell you about the body of Christ.
Today's Prayer Focus: Continue with my work
Today's Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

The first image that comes to my mind when I read this passage is my mother slaving away in the kitchen whenever our house would have guests. My mother is a great hostess and every time someone would come to our house as guests, she would prepare elaborate meals for them. I look forward to these occasions.

However, one other thing that comes to my mind is that my mother would also have an anxiety attack where she would worry about not having enough food or some people would not like her cooking. It seems that every time she would prepare, that would be the two things that would worry her.

I noticed that Jesus did not put down Martha's work, however, for MARY, and for Mary alone, what she needed at that moment was not to work at the kitchen, but to be at the feet of Christ. We do not know what circumstances of life that was surrounding Mary at that moment, but Christ knows.

Jesus did not rebuke Martha's work in the kitchen because someone has to do it. However, Mary needed something else at that particular moment.

Many times in our life as brothers and sisters of Christ, we see that others are enjoying OUR work in labor. We may become dismayed because we feel it's unfair. However, this passage teaches us that we just need to keep doing it because the people who are not, perhaps are the one that Christ wants to be at their feet to nurture.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me understand your will for each one of us and help me continue to do my part in the world according to your kingdom's will without pouting. Amen.

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage tell you about judgement and mercy?
Today's Prayer Focus: To be merciful
Today's Scripture: James 2:8-17 (NRSV)

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

The first phrase that jumps out at me when I read this passage is the verse, "For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy..."

It is very difficult to describe my feeling when I see on the television many of the so called leaders of the Christian church start judging others of different religious backgrounds and religious practices. I began to wonder where the feeling and the urge to judge was coming from. Here we are, as human beings that were not perfect, and we KNOW that we're not perfect, still, we're judging others based on our limited knowledge. And many times, these judgements are said by attaching God's name to it. My blood would start to boil and I would turn to another channel. It irks me so...

This verse in James reminds me not to be quick to judgement. Instead, show mercy so that I will be shown mercy as well. I believe God is calling me to do this today.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, calm my urge to judge others so that I can fully appreciate your mercy towards me. Amen.

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage to you about the ministry of God?
Today's Prayer Focus: To see the whole.
Today's Scripture: Luke 13:6-9 (NRSV)

Then [Jesus] told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

The phrase that jumps out at me when I first read this passage is the phrase "Cut it down, why should it be wasting the soil?" That is such a cut-throat thing to do it kept me uncomfortable ever so slightly.

The reason is this, I belong to a very forgiving and openminded church that incorporates many different thoughts into how to do ministry. So much so that a little church like ours is taking up so many ministry opportunities. While I believe we should be doing so, but sometimes, I believe that we should cut some of it off so that it's not taking up room in the limited vineyard that we have.

It's hard to cut something down when you've grown it for three years. It really is. It is even harder to cut it down when a loved one poured out their life and energy into a ministry and yet you have to cut it down for the benefit of the whole.

But sometimes, that's what I need to do. As a pastor, I need to survey some of the ministries and perhaps relay the reality to the congregation. This is very risky as some of those ministry may be near and dear to a lot of people. But with God's help, we may be able to see another "fig tree" grow up in the same place that bears fruit.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me see the whole in the ministry of the church. Amen.

Friday, April 13th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage say to you about faith?
Today's Prayer Focus: Becomes faithful.
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 11:4-32 (NRSV)

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old--and Sarah herself was barren--because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead--and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, "bowing in worship over the top of his staff." By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.

By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

The word that jumps out at me when I read this passage was... faith. (A real surprise there). Each paragraph of this passage all started with "by faith..."

There were many misconception of what faith means in my earlier life. The reason is that this word, faith, is translated to English very incompletely. I have said this before, the word faith, or pistis in Greek encompasses not only the abstractual faith belief that we know faith by, but it also encompasses the "act" of belief and the belief lifestyle. All three aspects of this word must be enacted in order to be 'faithful.'

Many times, I want to believe that something could happen. But many times, I don't do much more than that. I have to act it out and it has to become part of me and so engrained in me that it becomes a lifestyle for me.

I believe God is telling me to change my way of being faithful. Instead of just saying it, do it.

Jimmy's prayer: Oh God, help me be faithful in all aspects of this word. Amen.

Thursday, April 19th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage teach you about God's faith?
Today's Prayer Focus: Be strong in God's faith
Today's Scripture: Psalm 31:1-8 (NRSV)

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me,
O LORD, faithful God.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

The first phrase that comes to my mind is "the Rock." In which I am reminded of the movie by that name a number of years ago in which Sean Connery and Nickolas Cage starred in.

The Rock is a name given to the prison island outside of the Bay Area. (Name escapes me right now). BUt the point is that it is a prison that is impenetrable, those who go into it will never come out of it. It is a metaphor used for strength and stability.

This passage reminds me of what God's faith is all about. It is like The Rock in which is impenetrable and stable, it is steadfast and everlasting. I am reminded of that when I read this passage.

What this passage is calling me to do today is to trust in the Lord, I have been suffering with some stomach pains. Trust in the Lord's strength is what I should be doing.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me trust in your faith in me. Amen.

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage tell you about the love of God?
Today's Prayer Focus: Be listening to the prompting.
Today's Scripture: John 14:15-27 (NRSV)

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

The first phrase that keeps jumping out at me is the sentence "Those who love me will be loved by my father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

At first glance, this seems like a very exclusive phrase that John is writing. "Only those professing will be loved by God." However, this is far from the truth. The question for me in this passage is the love of God is shown through by the revelation from the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit that resides in those of us who shows Christ's love to others.

Through experience, I have learned that whenever I show the love of Christ to others, I have gained a revelation from God. Through experience, whenever I come up with a situation in which I can show the love of Christ to others, there is always a prompting in me that makes me want to show that love. I believe that prompting is the Holy Spirit. And whenever I listen, I receive a new relevation of who God is.

Whenever we show the love to others, we will get a glimpse of what God's love is all about. I believe that is what John is saying in this passage. So God is calling me to continue to listen to the prompting.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me to continue to listen to your prompting. Help me be a good steward of your love. Amen.

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Today's Focus Question: What does this passage teach you about forgiveness?
Today's Prayer Focus: True Forgiveness
Today's Scripture: Genesis 33:1-11 (NRSV)

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor with my lord." But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." Jacob said, "No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God--since you have received me with such favor. Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want." So he urged him, and he took it.

The first word that comes to mind when I read this passage is the word, forgiveness. It is very apparent to me that Esau has forgiven his brother, Jacob. Prior to this instance, Jacob had stolen Esau's birthright as the firstborn. Thus, before this, the tension between the two brothers were very high.

It is very interesting that the scripture doesn't tell us if Esau knew that Jacob had bowed down seven times prior to coming to him. But the first thing that Esau did was to run to his brother and kissed him. The sign of forgiveness is given by the one who was hurt. God is clearly calling me to do the same, to be the forgiver as the actor as suppose to the reactor.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me understand the ACT of forgiveness as Christ has forgiven me through the action on the cross. Amen.