Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Our Competence Comes From God (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)


“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
A new year 2019 has just arrived! 2018 was the year of searching and seeking the truth and the mysteries of God, of Christ, and of our lives. Scripture study including readings and meditations and writings was the means to enter into the truth and revelations in the midst of tumultuous and troublesome lives. Still learning the truth and being corrected by the revelations constantly and making changes in mind and heart, trying to be recovered in Christ from many failures and mistakes, worries and anxieties. Experienced challenges and troubles every day and often failed to meet the needs. At the same time, experienced the presence of the Lord who is faithful and gracious as promised. The end of construction is, though not known, coming rather quickly like thief in the night as told. So, wait eagerly for the day of his coming. 

Getting to know and understand of the truth and the revelations is one thing and obeying the word and experiencing the power of the truth is another. Making efforts to search the truth is our duty to do all of our days on earth. In return, we will be knowing and understanding of the secrets and mysteries of our lives. Jesus Christ is the answer. Indeed, he is the ultimate teller and revealer of the deep things of God. The Scriptures are written for our understanding and strength and power. It is not easy to understand them though. So, many shrug off their shoulders and run from them. We need both the obligatory efforts and the inspirational revelations in seeking the truth of lives because the word of truth is God-breathed. Humble and total reliance on the Spirit of God is essentially necessary and required in searching and seeking of the truth. It is a life long journey. 

As I have a job to do, making time and space for searching is not something effortlessly found. Long commute hours for work have been a blessing time and space to get educated and disciplined in being constantly corrected and challenged by the thoughts and mind of Christ and God. Listening to the expository sermons over and over again until my mind and heart are stuck with the thoughts of the Scriptures, hoping for being molded and equipped with the mind of Christ more and more. It never comes into light without struggles to learn and understand. Trying to meditate the words that I pick up while listening plus reading the text for digestion. Furthermore, digging in to find out the answers which I struggle to see through the meanings and sayings of the Lord Christ Jesus. I read many different and various translations and think through in driving and the work out as well. 

Sharing lives with others is an important piece of learning process. Just get connected each other. There are always someone to share the lives together. Families, friends, neighbors, church people, and even strangers face to face, emails or text messages. Simply talking each other things trivial and ordinary, honestly telling what’s really happening in our lives, especially struggles and failures in the midst. On top of that, sharing the mind of God and Christ out of the Scriptures too, asking and answering questions each other and trying to be motivated to repent and change our minds according to what the Spirit says to our hearts. We all are one body of Christ. We are inherently connected and united each other in Christ though the relationships are invisible. 

Life is really complicated and complex. It is never easy to get along with others, even among families. It is sound and normal to agree to disagree each other. Accepting and embracing the different opinions and viewpoints is so important in maintaining loving relationships each other. Whatever that is if too dogmatic and assertive on certain matters in the Scriptures may cause to hurt or break the loving relationships. Rather, be patiently and kindly wait some time to get harmony each other. Who knows the Spirit may work it out for mutual agreement each other? Respect and be kind to others as the Lord is being patient with us.  

The study of Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and Peter’s Epistles has blessed my heart and mind throughout the latter half of the year. The first half of the year was spent for recovering from an illness. The understanding of humility and submission which our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated has strengthened and empowered my soul and heart to follow the way despite of frequent failures and mistakes. Life is full of troubles no matter who and what and where, including Adam and every men and women throughout the centuries. No one can escape troubles and heartaches. No difference at all, religious or irreligious, rich or poor, white or non-white, young or old, noble or ignoble. Humility and submission are the secrets to life just as our Lord Jesus lived on the earth. He set the example how we might live righteously and victoriously while on earth. Though he was the Son of God, he remained humble and lowly to bring us to the Father even to the point of death according to the Scriptures.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
Will continue to search and seek the truth in the coming years and days. That is why I am here for. Keep on searching for the truth in Christ and God! Finding the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of all struggles and troubles. Obeying God as Christ the Lord obeyed the Father in all circumstance, as God says, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” I am going to fail to meet the needs for sure. Even that failures and missteps have already been forgiven and cleansed and washed away by the blood of Christ Jesus the Lord. Our confidence is not from the flesh whatever that is, education, experience, career, knowledge, understanding, race, age, title, or even devotions. What counts only is God who is all in all. We are called to be the ministers of the new covenant as his instruments. So, we keep on obeying him as Christ the Lord obeyed the Father even to the point of death. Jesus says, “The Son can do nothing by himself.” (John 5:19) Likewise, we can do nothing by ourselves no matter what and who. But we can do all things in Christ through whom we receive the power of resurrection. Worship God by giving ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord for that is the reasonable and true worship. Amen!


  January 8, 2019
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