Sharing is Caring

‘Wait for what the Father had promised’           [Acts 1:1-5]     In a verse from a children's song, there are lyrics like this: ‘Promise with your pinky finger tightly crossed.’   It's a verse that young children enjoy singing when making promise.   However, it seems they understand that promise can be easily broken, as the method and procedure for reaffirming promise continue to evolve.   Initially, they would simply hook their pinky fingers, but at some point, after hooking their pinky fingers, they stamp it with their thumbs as a sort of "seal."   Now, after making the promise and sealing it, they say "copy" to each other while pressing their palms together.   This means that the promise has been duplicated, so it must be kept.   Some children go even further and add a step of signing on the palm after copying the promise.   It's their own triple or quadruple lock system for promises (Internet). ...

                         A debtor (2)       [Romans 8:12-17]     How should we live as debtors?     First, as debtors, we must not live according to the sinful nature.   In a word, as debtors, we should not live according to the sinful nature (Rom. 8:12). We must live by putting to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit of Christ (v. 13).   We must live as servants of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God (v. 14), obeying God's laws (commands).   The Scripture says that these Christians are “sons of God” (v. 14).   Second, as debtors, we must live like children of God.   Look at Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”   What does it mean to live like children of God?   (1)    God’s children call God “Abba, Father.”   Look ...

Those who are in Christ Jesus           [Romans 8:1-11]     There may be hymns or gospel songs that you like.   And you probably have a reason why you like that hymn or gospel song.   Personally, when I see brothers and sisters in Christ whom I love around me suffering from hard work, I often exhort them by quoting the lyrics of the 2nd verse of the gospel song “We Will Keep Our Faith Alive”: “We will live as God has planned though at times we may not understand.   Many things we may not see, but our faith will help us believe.   From His word we learn the truth; through His love we all are born a new. ….”   I don't know how much comfort and strength these lyrics are.   Although it is difficult to fathom what the Lord intends, there are many times when I am personally strengthened and comforted by the fact that I am always in the Lord's will.   In the midst of this, I began to ponder a little in...

The Word became flesh (3)     [John 1:1-4, 9-14]                     The Bible says that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is “the Word,” is also God.  Look at John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  The Bible says that Jesus Christ, who is “the Word,” is “God.”  Look at Isaiah 9:6 – “ For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”   This is the word prophesied by the prophet Isaiah about the birth (incarnation) of the Son Jesus, and refers to Jesus who will come as “Mighty God.”   Look at 1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son...