11. While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
12. He said:“A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
13. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.‘Put this money to work,’ he said,‘until I come back.’
14.“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say,‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15.“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16.“The first one came and said,‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17.“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied.‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18.“The second came and said,‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19.“His master answered,‘You take charge of five cities.’
20. “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
21. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
22.“His master replied,‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?
23. Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24.“Then he said to those standing by,‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25.“‘Sir,’ they said,‘he already has ten!’
26.“He replied,‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.
27. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them―bring them here and kill them in front of me.”
In the reflection, they say to "always keep a positive mind, and avoid negative thinking." This is a great statement that one can always use in all aspects of their lives. But what if God is the cause of the negative thinking? Sometimes this is what I feel. I'll explain why. Sometimes you get caught up in a secular lifestyle, that when you keep a positive mind you might make decisions like going to the beach with some friends instead of church. There are no negative reasons why you shouldn't go. Except for the fact that you're Christian, and Christians go to church. It is because of God that you think of more negative reasons, like you should be going to church and praising God, not going to the beach and praising the sun.
This is when I realize how powerful Satan is. In a way, I'm fighting for Satan (trying to find a reason not to go to church), and doing all the heavy work while he is just sitting in the back taunting me. He makes me blame God, instead of thanking him. I feel like I've done enough for God sometimes, and instead of God saying you have done enough, it is Satan constantly saying it, which is exactly what I want to hear. Even though Satan can be this huge power, he is nothing compared to God.
We talked about temptation last week in cell meeting. Today, I realized all my temptations want me to escape reality. The thing is, my reality is spending my weekdays at school and work, and weekends at church. So when you think of no negative reasons for falling into temptations, just realize that is exactly what Satan wants you to think. And if you weren't a Christian, it would be true. However, we are Christians. And that is much more of a blessing then a burden.
Tag: Matt
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Luke 12:49-59
Luke 12:58-59
"As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
I believe that the message of Salvation cannot be made into a simpler metaphor than the one that Jesus provides here in Luke.
Obviously, we are the ones being taken to the magistrate to be judged, and if we do not reconcile ourselves, we will be thrown into prison. We need to make peace with our adversary, the person we have wronged, to avoid punishment.
I tag: YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU, NICK YOO
"As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
I believe that the message of Salvation cannot be made into a simpler metaphor than the one that Jesus provides here in Luke.
Obviously, we are the ones being taken to the magistrate to be judged, and if we do not reconcile ourselves, we will be thrown into prison. We need to make peace with our adversary, the person we have wronged, to avoid punishment.
I tag: YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU, NICK YOO
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
maybe you noticed
For today's QT reflection, let's reflect on what is coming up in 40 days: EASTER.
Maybe you noticed people walking around with black marks on their foreheads today. If you did and do not know what the deal is with those people, here's the deal.
Today is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday means that we are only 40 days away from Easter Sunday. It is a time a fasting, repentance, contemplation and preparing for the Passion Week and Easter.
I know it is a Catholic tradition, but I don't see anything wrong with spending the next 40 days preparing ourselves for Easter (save for the fact that we should be aware of Jesus' sacrifice all year round). For Catholics, this is known as the season of Lent, and during this time, a Catholic will choose something to sacrifice for the next 40 days.
Maybe you noticed people walking around with black marks on their foreheads today. If you did and do not know what the deal is with those people, here's the deal.
Today is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday means that we are only 40 days away from Easter Sunday. It is a time a fasting, repentance, contemplation and preparing for the Passion Week and Easter.
I know it is a Catholic tradition, but I don't see anything wrong with spending the next 40 days preparing ourselves for Easter (save for the fact that we should be aware of Jesus' sacrifice all year round). For Catholics, this is known as the season of Lent, and during this time, a Catholic will choose something to sacrifice for the next 40 days.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Luke 11:14-28
Jesus and Beelzebub
14Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." 16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
24"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
14. Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
15. But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."
16. Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
17. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
18. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.
19. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
20. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
23. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
24. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
25. When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
27. As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28. He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Reflection:
In this passage some of the people asked for a miracle from heaven even after witnessing Jesus drive the demon from the man. I think that many times in my life I also do that. God has blessed me in more ways than I can list and he's performed miracles in my life that nobody else could have but when I need something I find myself not having faith that He can deliver. It's like when I find myself having to put total faith and trust in God I doubt him and I kind of say "God if you can do this or that then I will put my faith in you." Why must God prove himself to me over and over?? He has shown me has power yet I still don't have complete faith and trust in him.
Verse 23 says :"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."
I think that it is important that we are with God in every way. We must have faith in Him, believe in Him, know the Word, and live by the Word. Without doing these things we would be against God because we wouldn't know him. How can we know God's glory and be one with Him if we don't know him? How do you have faith and trust in someone when you don't know what they've done or who they are? I think that God wants us to walk side by side with him, know him intimately, and be with him instead of against him. This also applies to us as a church and as a EM group. We need to be grow together and be one with God together in order to be stronger Christians and be able to go through all the ups and down that we are going to face spiritually. We want to grow together and be disciples of God without letting satan penetrate our group.
I hope that I can get closer to God so that I can have faith in Him and trust Him with everything in my life. I don't want to doubt God or even be confused by what he has done and continues to do. I want to be so intimate and close with God that I never ever have to ask him to "perform a miracle" for me to have faith in him and believe in him. I also hope and pray that we as a church will be able to unite spiritually and be one with God. I think that everyday that we get closer to God we get closer as a church but it is up to every single one of us to do our parts to get closer with God and with each other.
I pray and hope that you guys have a good day, am safe at all times, have good health, and am blessed by God in many ways.
Tag: Jeff Park
15. But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."
16. Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
17. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.
18. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.
19. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
20. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
23. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
24. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
25. When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
27. As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28. He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Reflection:
In this passage some of the people asked for a miracle from heaven even after witnessing Jesus drive the demon from the man. I think that many times in my life I also do that. God has blessed me in more ways than I can list and he's performed miracles in my life that nobody else could have but when I need something I find myself not having faith that He can deliver. It's like when I find myself having to put total faith and trust in God I doubt him and I kind of say "God if you can do this or that then I will put my faith in you." Why must God prove himself to me over and over?? He has shown me has power yet I still don't have complete faith and trust in him.
Verse 23 says :"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."
I think that it is important that we are with God in every way. We must have faith in Him, believe in Him, know the Word, and live by the Word. Without doing these things we would be against God because we wouldn't know him. How can we know God's glory and be one with Him if we don't know him? How do you have faith and trust in someone when you don't know what they've done or who they are? I think that God wants us to walk side by side with him, know him intimately, and be with him instead of against him. This also applies to us as a church and as a EM group. We need to be grow together and be one with God together in order to be stronger Christians and be able to go through all the ups and down that we are going to face spiritually. We want to grow together and be disciples of God without letting satan penetrate our group.
I hope that I can get closer to God so that I can have faith in Him and trust Him with everything in my life. I don't want to doubt God or even be confused by what he has done and continues to do. I want to be so intimate and close with God that I never ever have to ask him to "perform a miracle" for me to have faith in him and believe in him. I also hope and pray that we as a church will be able to unite spiritually and be one with God. I think that everyday that we get closer to God we get closer as a church but it is up to every single one of us to do our parts to get closer with God and with each other.
I pray and hope that you guys have a good day, am safe at all times, have good health, and am blessed by God in many ways.
Tag: Jeff Park
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Generosity of God
Today's QT passage: Luke 11:1-13
1. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2. He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3. Give us each day our daily bread.
4. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ “
5. Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6. because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7.“Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9.“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11.“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Reflection:
Whenever I read this passage it reminds me of how distorted my view of prayer can become. Prayer so often seems like a chore, almost like making your bed or taking out the trash. I often think of prayer as "checking in" with God and as a gauge of how "spiritual" I am being. But prayer is not that. What I always found interesting was that after having spent all that time with Jesus, they still had to ask him how to pray. Obviously there was something different about how Jesus was praying. It wasn't just some rote memorization or prayers written down on some scroll. It was a personal prayer that wasn't memorized or recited. The "Lord's Prayer" wasn't necessarily meant for us to just memorize verbatim, but serves as a template for the things we should pray about in our personal prayers:
1) Acknowledge God's holiness and majesty
2) Pray that His will will be done and is being done on earth
3) Be thankful for what He has provided us
4) Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness
5) Ask for power against temptations/Satan
6) Intercessory prayer
Even though we often feel like we "don't know how to pray", Jesus tells us how to do it. Whenever we "forget", we should come back to this passage and remind ourselves.
What's also interesting is that the example Jesus gives about asking for things is not for the person who is asking but for a guest of the asker. In other words, when we ask for things, God will almost always grant our prayer when it's intercessory in nature. And my personal experience has definitely shown this to be true. When we pray for others, things seem to happen a lot more quickly than when I have prayed for things myself. This reminds me of the old story/visual of how people in heaven eat: everyone's chopsticks/spoons/forks are super long, so that if you tried to feed yourself, it would be impossible because you couldn't reach your mouth; rather, the way to eat is to feed the other people around the table with your extra-long utensils. Therefore, the quickest way to get our prayers answered is to share our prayers and pray for others. I think this "filters" our requests to those that really are aligned with God's will, since you wouldn't necessarily share a request that is selfish ("God, give me a million dollars"). But this also puts an enormous responsibility on every pray-er (one who prays), as requests will be granted if we only actually pray. Not praying for someone would be like someone asking you to feed them but you choosing not to do so. Let's not let anyone go hungry...
I TAG: Jenny Yi
1. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2. He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3. Give us each day our daily bread.
4. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ “
5. Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6. because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7.“Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9.“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11.“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Reflection:
Whenever I read this passage it reminds me of how distorted my view of prayer can become. Prayer so often seems like a chore, almost like making your bed or taking out the trash. I often think of prayer as "checking in" with God and as a gauge of how "spiritual" I am being. But prayer is not that. What I always found interesting was that after having spent all that time with Jesus, they still had to ask him how to pray. Obviously there was something different about how Jesus was praying. It wasn't just some rote memorization or prayers written down on some scroll. It was a personal prayer that wasn't memorized or recited. The "Lord's Prayer" wasn't necessarily meant for us to just memorize verbatim, but serves as a template for the things we should pray about in our personal prayers:
1) Acknowledge God's holiness and majesty
2) Pray that His will will be done and is being done on earth
3) Be thankful for what He has provided us
4) Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness
5) Ask for power against temptations/Satan
6) Intercessory prayer
Even though we often feel like we "don't know how to pray", Jesus tells us how to do it. Whenever we "forget", we should come back to this passage and remind ourselves.
What's also interesting is that the example Jesus gives about asking for things is not for the person who is asking but for a guest of the asker. In other words, when we ask for things, God will almost always grant our prayer when it's intercessory in nature. And my personal experience has definitely shown this to be true. When we pray for others, things seem to happen a lot more quickly than when I have prayed for things myself. This reminds me of the old story/visual of how people in heaven eat: everyone's chopsticks/spoons/forks are super long, so that if you tried to feed yourself, it would be impossible because you couldn't reach your mouth; rather, the way to eat is to feed the other people around the table with your extra-long utensils. Therefore, the quickest way to get our prayers answered is to share our prayers and pray for others. I think this "filters" our requests to those that really are aligned with God's will, since you wouldn't necessarily share a request that is selfish ("God, give me a million dollars"). But this also puts an enormous responsibility on every pray-er (one who prays), as requests will be granted if we only actually pray. Not praying for someone would be like someone asking you to feed them but you choosing not to do so. Let's not let anyone go hungry...
I TAG: Jenny Yi
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