Phil 4:4 Rejoice
in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be
known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God;
Ps 84:10 For a
day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Life is a marathon
and not a 100 meter race. We race so hard in life, to replace our
phones, to upgrade our job and education, to upgrade from a three bed
room housing board development to a condominium, from a Japanese car to
a European car, etc. At the end, this is all in vain, for we cannot
bring it all along to our next life.
What is better, and
what is more value in God's scheme? In Ps 84:10, King David reminded us
that one day in the presence of the God of Israel, is better than a
thousand days in the world. The presence of God is the focus, not
whether we are the pastor or the high priest, for as David said even the
gate keeper would be a privelage as long as the presence of God is
there.
What takes away from
the presence of God? when we focus on self - our own good works,
intellect, and our own righteousness? The devil attacks the church
indirectly by making us focus outside of God's presence. When Love
Singapore wear white asserting their righteousness over gays, when we
put on intellect claiming special progressive knowledge denying the
fullness of the revelation of Jesus Christ, we make ourselves the
centre.
When Jesus is the
centre, there is God's presence, for Jesus is God incarnate. We can't
see God without seeing Jesus as Lord, saviour and Messiah, and not just
another good moral teacher or religious activist. God's measure of
success is how we treat His presence, how we dwell in the presence of
the Holy Spirit. We enter into God's presence by prayer and
supplication, replacing our burdens and anxiety with the assurance of
God's salvation in Christ Jesus both on earth and as in heaven.
In many inclusive
churches, their mind and intellect is their god, and the Holy Spirit is
just another visitor whilst they play religion. That is why there is a
big back door, when people do not find a temple of God, an altar to God
in the church, but a worship of human intellect, and religion.
When Jesus, His
death, resurrection, Kingship, Priesthood, and servanthood are at the
centre, we are no more an empty building. The church is made up of
people building an altar to Jesus in their own lives.
At the end of life,
the pursuit of racing ahead of others, and blaiming others for our own
sins (just as FCBC and Love Singapore and the National Council of
Churches blame gays for the destruction of marriage), is not worth it,
for all is meaningless under the sun. The campaign against gay marriage
in US is now forgotten after only a few months. Few remembers us for
being harsh and judgemental. We are remembered when we show grace and
mercy.
At the end of life,
what is maningful is the times spent with family, friends, and in the
presence of God. Would people remember us for our gentleness or
kindness? I see those who are fighting against gay marriage, and in
Singapore even fighting to ensure that gays are put in prison. This is
all meaningless under the sun!
At the end, what
would be Christianity be known as? Would they know us by our grace, love
and mercy? Do they see Jesus in us rather than the zealous pharisee who
has a log of sin in his eyes? whose life and church members are filled
with abortion adultery, and divorces yet blame the gentle lambs? When we
keep living in sin by insisting that others are greater sinners, we can
become great hypocrites such as Josh Duggard of the Family Research
Council.
We can only be kind
and gentle, when we find joy in the Lord of Hosts. Rejoice in the Lord,
Paul tells us in Phil 4:4, rejoice for God is a good God and His grace
and mercy to us is new every morning. Everyday, we are to be thankful
just for being alive, for
the daily living and needs, mindful of
God's underserved grace. Contenment comes when we realised God is good
and appreciate the simple goodness of God that even being a gate keeper
in God's presence is a great blessing.
Life is not about getting a new and
better boyfriend, continuously upgrading ourselves, life is about rest,
being kind and gentle to others, and being contented and humble in the
presence of God in Christ Jesus. At the end, it is not about what we do,
our financial and social status, our gender or sexual orientation, but
our generosity to others, and our heart to be and abide in God's Holy
Temple.
In everything, let us live our lives in
thanksgiving and prayer for the love, mercy and grace of God in our
lives, and always rejoicing putting on gentleness, wisdom to one and
all. For we are not to be anxious for anything, but in prayerful
expectation that God's grace is sufficient for today and tommorow
knowing that of faith and Hope of eternal Glory is not in vain but
abiding in the presence of God.
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