Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Jesus today has many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who carry His cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress. Plenty of people He finds to share His banquet, few to share His fast. Every desires to take part in His rejoicing, but few are willing to suffer anything for His sake. There are many that follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, few as far as drinking the cup of suffering; many that revere His miracles, few that follow Him in the indignity of His cross.

Thomas à Kempis

posted by Mel-Vern @ 10:56 PM 0 comments

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Re-establishing Priorities Through Prayer

In this time and space of human history, I reckon there is an unprecendented amount of "happenings" that constantly vye for our attention. Generally, our working hours are longer these days, a family to care for, our constant need to be entertained (sometimes ludicrous and unsatiable), wondering why I'm not upgraded to Business Class, serving in a ministry and the list goes on. When we spread ourselves too thin, we are effectively reducing our availability for God's power to work in and through our lives. No wonder we often suffer from burn-outs.

When we come before the Lord in our usual prayer, we are often quick to throw in our complaints and lay endless petitions. If you recall my last email "Before My Lord", I too am equally guilty. However, a good look at Matthew 6:7-8 is where Jesus tells us not to babble on like pagans, and that our Father in heaven already knows our need.

Jesus goes on to teach us how to pray. Let us look closer at the Lord's prayer : Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Note the order of the prayer : saluting God, praising His name, desiring His Kingdom and seeking His will. Only then the rest of the prayer was about our needs, forgiveness and our protection.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God before all these things shall be added unto us. Do note that "all these things" also includes His gifts that He promises us. It is an issue of sequence. God and God alone has to be desired above everything else. I am not suggesting at all that we should drop all that we are doing right now. By no means! I believe Jesus is constantly challenging us about the issue of priority sequence in our lives. You and I may need to reshuffle the sequence of priorities, and where necessary, may be challenged by God to give something up altogether.

The next time you and I come before the Lord in prayer, invite God to speak into our hearts as we open our prayers with "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name".

posted by Mel-Vern @ 9:10 PM 0 comments

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Of strength and sensitivity, of firmness and feelings

The thorough integration of strength and sensitivity, of firmness and feeling, is rare. We sometimes see sensitive people who are unstrung most of the time. They bleed profusely at the sight of blood. Their sensitivity incapacitates them for action in the rough-and-tumble cruelties of the world. In constrast others are rigid moralists, ramrod stiff with righteous rectitude. There is never any doubt about their dogmatically asserted position. But their principles are hammers that crack skulls and bruise flesh. The world makes a wide circuit of such persons. It is dangerous to be in their company for very long, for if they detect any mental weakness or moral wavering in us, we will be lucky to escape without at least a headache.
Eugene H. Peterson

posted by Mel-Vern @ 9:02 PM 0 comments