Dear…
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:23
Just yesterday, I finally made a momentous decision. Decided to order online a few bottles of Thayers Witch Hazel cleansing toner. I guess my narcissism got the better of me.
These past few months, I have been struggling. Knowing the word and clear commands of our Lord, yet often succumbing to my carnality.
The opening introduction to the Book of James in my Holman Bible says
Faith understands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin. Faith obeys the Word. It will not merely hear and not do.
In our Lordś prayer that Christ taught to all, one line that stands out for me this period is Lead us not to temptation.
It will be easy if God just take away from us all possibilities of temptation. But truth be it that while God can do that, He gives us a free will to exercise the right to submit to Him and flee from temptation.
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
1 James 1:14-15
I now put this verse in my smartphone, the modern day Tree of Knowledge. And like the proverbial fruit that Adam sinned in taking from this Tree, today, the internet is both a great source of knowledge as well as temptation.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25
Desire. If my desire is for the world, then it is only natural to succumb to temptations that the devil lays in our path.
I realize the way to overcome temptation is to have only one desire, for the Lord our God. Then whatever the devil throws at us, will have no traction.
How can one not be in awe of the grace and omnipresence of our Lord.
Just last nite, my boy with his friends were stuck in the desolate forest of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their car broke down.
Yet in half an hour, our Lord send an angel in the form of a passing couple who gave them a lift back to their hostel, 45 minutes away.
And this morning, what looks like a 6 hour journey back to Melbourne via public transport, as the car rental company was not very helpful, was no longer necessary.
They found the source of the problem for the car and now they can drive back safely.
Why thank God for something that could be pure luck?
The first instance for the couple to pass by late in the evening in an isolated place is no luck but by the grace of our ever present God.
And God always affirms. This morning as we were praying for what looks like a difficult situation yet I have never doubted that God is in control and has a greater purpose for allowing it.Someone who does not know about our present issues sent me an article extract below
Today is the day …
to commit problems to God.
God never intended for you to be controlled by the problems in your life.
That is why He took so much care to let you know that you can place your trust in Him.
He is the One who cares for you.
He does not promise that things will necessarily turn out as you expect them to.
But He does say with certainty that He will take care of you in every situation you encounter.
You will not have to face the problems of your life alone.
God will be there to see you through.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:20 NIV
A few minutes later, my son text me to tell me that they have resolved the issue.
A computer chip attached to the car key was missing and that was the reason for the stalled car.
By His grace they just found the chip
In my weakness, I have often succumbed to my carnal desires, and sinned, much as I know the Word of God and I know God is watching. What a foolish and irresponsible behaviour on my part.
Yet God is forbearing. He knows my limits and imperfections, and He allows much as He corrects.
... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2
May His grace allow me now to be resolute to be Holy, for He is Holy
To move forward resolutely, we must be very mindful that God is indeed omnipresent and one must hold Him in awe and not dare to muck around. For the fear of our God is the beginning of wisdom, and the love of God gives us every reason not to disappoint Him.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
16 Nov 2016
