Dear…
'Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.'
Joshua 1:9
There was this video on Winnie the Pooh and his friends that I bought for my kids on the way to the States, when they were still toddlers and we had great fun watching the antics of that hare-brained bear and his friends. Those were the 'innocent' days before 9/11 forever changed the world and when toddlers do not put you through the angst of the present teenage years, where fathering for me at the moment, is no longer about provisions of basic needs, but about emotional management and role modeling
Harking back to those innocent days, in the same cartoon, Winnie's friend,Tigger the cranky tiger, an effervescent character, was feeling a little down, with the rain cloud hanging over his head, and much as he tried to get rid of it, he could not. The rain cloud clung on to Tigger because he had offended it and Tigger continued not to repent of his ways by apologizing to the offended cloud.
'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God…'
Acts 20:24
Clouds are still hanging over many of our lives today, as the gloom from the sub-prime fallout has now clearly permeated the general economy. For many, it is like the same dark overbearing cloud that refuses to leave and continues to hang over our already drooping heads and sagging spirit, shutting out whatever possible glimmer of light somewhere out there.
Can one really be singing 'Hallelujah' and not just be thanking God for all situations, but responding in faith in glorifying His grace even in such bleak conditions?
'And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.'
Mark 8:16
Many a believer of our Lord Jesus Christ would find it hard to be generous, be it in spirit or in kind, when our very own conditions seem as dire or worse than the general populace. What about those who are relatively better sheltered? Would they consider venturing out of their comfort zone and be willing to share the Lord's provisions, notwithstanding that it seems to have diminished somewhat?
Too whom much is given, much will be expected, and in the midst of destruction, many of us who know the Lord are truly blessed. It might be a question of relativity, for all have suffered but diminished resources be it time, wealth or simply emotional challenges should not keep us from responding to the needs of others of even lesser fortitude, that God places in our midst. For all provisions are from the Lord, and the burden is light, when we rest upon our Lord Jesus Christ.
'And when Jesus knew it, He saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened?
Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? And do ye not remember?'
Mark 8:17-18
God never promises us no storms. But His faithfulness and presence is with those who draw nears to Him. He is in our midst, always. What matters then is not the issue of our present conditions, but have we been conditional with God, before we are willing to respond to His will, in trust and obedience?
'The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.'
Proverbs 14:32
The temporal will grip us, if we do not believe in God's promise, which is eternity with Him in Heaven, and peace and joy on Earth. If God is real, and HE is, then should we not dither any longer with concerns of the world, but rather be concerned with doing right in His eyes. If the devil was real, and he is, he would be smirking away in glee right now,watching many of us exert great angst in trying to hang on to the fast diminishing delusions of the world, that we happily sold our souls for in the 'good times.' The payback time for Satan is now, as he watches not just our wealth, but our very health slip away, as we pay the price for our past disobedience to the will of God, and as we continue to try to clutch on to the proverbial straw of the world's riches, not realizing that we are fast falling deeper into the clutches of the devil, who wants our very soul to join him in eternal damnation.
'When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end…'
Psalms 73:16-17
God will not allow this to happen if we just let go and let Him bring us forth unto His presence.
'…It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Acts 20:35
'I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.'
Isaiah 42:6-7.
Generosity not just helps us break free from the grip of the devil, but it brings us unto the presence of God, for God is love. A local tycoon recently was quoted as saying that his Christian friends told him that it was a sin to die rich. Guess he mean't materially. Not too sure if he was quoted correctly or possibly he was misinformed, but on the contrary, it will be a sin if we do not die rich in doing the Lord's work while we are living. "There is a value to life when we use the abilities and resources that God has made available to us to make a difference in the lives of other people"( quote from Discovery Series "Cultivating a life of contentment).
'My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever……….it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works.'
Psalms 73:26-28
Our God is good. Once again, as our Lord brings my thoughts to a close, the world financial markets have rallied strongly from just what looks like a near cave-in just yesterday. This temporary respite is a chance for many to try to make right their already quite devastated financial situation, especially if they are on leverage. More importantly, it is an opportunity for all of us to take a step back from the relentless coundrum that we find ourselves in, to take time to be with the Lord our God, Who is always in our midst. Repentance has to come from a humble and contrite heart. The past few months have been a humbling experience for many, and in truly being willing to let go and let God be Sovereign in our lives, it does not mean that we will regain or restore our past material status. But rather, healing starts when we begin to learn to be truly thankful that God has been good, even when we have not and that perplexed we might be, but He did not allow us to be crushed. And that what matters now for us is no longer the ways and wonders of the secular world, but the will of God.
'So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee, Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.'
Psalms 73:22-25
The shaking is not over. It will never be over till our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The shaking will intensify, but will you be like the stubborn Pharoah of Egypt, whose heart hardened even more and came to great grief, literally drowning in a sea of red(as many are today), ie in the Red Sea. A humble and contrite heart is what our Lord looks for. Would it not be better to come unto His midst now, then to defer till one is thoroughly humbled?
'For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not….'
Isaiah 30:15
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(29th Oct 2008)
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