Dear…
‘I cry out to God Most High, to God Who fulfills His purpose for me.’
Psalm 57:2
As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, it does not mean that we will always be on cloud nine, where nothing seems to daunt us, and in fact, life is a breeze.
Reality is there are enough occasions where a reversion to our old worldly self seems quite compelling, no different from the complaining Jews, who lamented that Egypt with all her bondages seem to be a better option, than the desert that Moses has brought them to.
‘Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up.’
Acts 20:32
Is God a delusion? Even if He is not, is being of the world better than to be not of this world?
By His grace, I am at this point of my faith where my heart does not allow such thoughts to sink its roots in.
Can one be truly contented and thankful for the richness of life God has blessed the faithful, then to look longingly at the illuminating lights of the riches of the world?
‘Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.’
Ezekiel 36:25
This verse speaks to me of the time that the Spirit of God fell upon me, when I wept so loud in the still quiet Bangkok nite of my hotel room in Grand Hyatt Erawan back in year 2001. It was a sense of cleansing of my inner man by our Lord.
‘..because God ….chose you for salvation through the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.’
2 Thessalonians 2:13
His Spirit fell upon me a second time, and wept again I did. But there was this indescribable joy and peace. The encapsulating love of God. At that moment, I truly know God, for my spirit man was in communion with my Father in Heaven.
‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.’
Ezekiel 36:26
And indeed a new heart He gave me for I was never the same ever again.
I was not just determined to move from believer to follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, but God gave me that something extra, that somehow never existed in me. Falter I still do, struggle I often wrestle with, yet though it all, thanks be to God, what has never left me is that
determination to seek Him and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit now residing in me.
‘........his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’
Psalm 112:7
An afterthought : The long wait
‘How long, Lord must I call for help?’
Habakkuk 1:2
I rarely read books other than the Bible. Very unlike my younger days when I was a vociferous reader of books, with Enid Blyton being my favorite author.
Past few days, I finally picked up a book a dear brother gave me. The testimony of an old couple from my church who served in a remote part of East Asia. The grace of God upon their lives as they seek to answer His call, the prescience of His ways, is this not my own constant experiences and the testimonies of countless other man and woman of faith?
Yet, there are many Christians out there who remain as indifferent believers, caught up with the world. Mao Tse Tung and his rag tag Red Army did the Long March, hotly pursuit by the then ruling Kuomintang. Mao had one purpose for him and his men, to escape the encirclement of their enemies.
When would you break free of the entrapment of the devil upon your heart?
Is God speaking to you right this moment? If so, wait no longer, but take time to draw near to Him. And He will draw near to you. And your life will never be the same again.
Not just because you will give up the wants of your once material world, but what awaits you is a life walking in tandem with our Father in Heaven, as He leads you on a journey of discovery of His love and Sovereignty.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
Seek Him while He can be found.
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