Slave with a Clear Purpose

[S] 1 Corinthians 9:19 --
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.

[O] Paul realized he was set free by Christ's death on the Cross, but he he made himself a slave to all others by his choice because that would allow him to win more souls for Christ.  This is the mentality of a sold-out Christian and a model worthy to follow after.

[A] I am so busy trying to "get away" from many people that I really had it backwards.  I need to first find a way to serve Christ's purpose in my life and foundationally this is to win more souls.  So if I need to make myself a slave to all to fulfill this purpose, then I shouldn't be afraid to do that.  But I am....

[P] Dear Jesus, may my life first find the purpose and goal that you desire for me to attain, then let me think about pursuing my own plans.  Please use my life to the fullest to win more souls for You. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Evidence of His Kingdom

[S] 1 Corinthians 4:20 --
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

[O] As the phrase, "Pictures are worth thousand words," God's power is worth million words to describe the presence of His kingdom.  At the end of the day, more than what I say or write, it's the evidence of God's power which serves as the stamp of approval of His kingdom in the midst of us.  No matter how great things may look, without the evidence of His power working, it'll all end up being man's own power.

[A] Stop trying to explain too much but pray and ask for God's power to show up in my life.

[P] Dear Father, send Your power in my life.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Even God Waits for the Fullness of the Time

[S] Galatians 4:4 --
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

[O] God's timing is the best timing and He will without mistakes carry out His will according to His perfect timing at all times.  So, waiting for and recognizing His perfect time (or fullness of the time) is one of the pre-requisite to carrying out God's will in my life.  If God had to wait for the fullness of the time before sending His Son to our world to carry out His will for us, there is no exception that I would have to wait for the fullness of His time also.

[A] How I long for things to happen on my own terms and timelines.  I must submit to His timeline and learn to know when the fullness of His time arrives for me to take proper actions.  There are some pending items in my life for which I've been seeking a right timing and based on this passage I am going to see if the fullness of time came for me or not.

[P] Dear Father, You know what are the areas in my life which need patience to wait for the fullness of Your timing.  Please grant my heart to not get anxious or complacent but be on the alert for the fullness of Your time.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Don't Let Agency of Man Get Ahead

[S] Galatians 1:1 --
1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

[O] Paul's introduction is very simple and yet very powerful and significant because he does not associate himself not with earthly organizations but to Jesus Christ and God Himself.  I'm not sure how many times I catch myself associating with the ministry organizations that I am connected with more significantly than to Jesus Christ and God Himself first.

[A] I need to recognize what Jesus had done at the Cross which established the significance of my relationship with Him before anything else takes place.  This way I would have the right attitude like Paul did when he interacts with others, especially other Christians.

[P] Dear Father, allow me to be in Your presence at all times so I may have to right heart and attitude to represent You and not the agency of men that I belong to.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

First, Go!

[S] Mark 16:20 --
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.]
[And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. ]

[O] Remembering from the retreat speaker last weekend, "going" (in this case "went out") is what I was drawn to in this passage.  If they hadn't gone out in the first place, there "won't be any preaching, no where."  Because they went out, the Lord worked with them and displayed signs to encourage their faith.  After going, they also returned and reported all the excitements they witnessed.  And then after that, Jesus Himself moved through them to proclaim the eternal salvation everywhere.  This progression of His working in us simply because they went out is very simple and yet powerful lesson as I take part in His ministry.

[A] I need to spend some quality time with God on where I need to "go" PERIOD.  The rest will be history.

[P] Dear Jesus, please reveal in my heart the direction and the place I need to "go."  I want to be used as Your vehicle to carry the eternally good news to as many people as I can.  In Jesus' name I ask.  Amen.

Everyday vs. Fulfillment of Sripture

[S] Mark 14:49 --
49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures."

[O] As Jesus spent every day with the people teaching, mingling, and talking with them, the Jews had ample time to take Jesus away but they came to Gethsemane at night with a squad of soldiers to arrest Him in order to fulfill God's words.  It is not what happens everyday that matters, but what God's fulfillment of His words that matters most and I must focus my mind in seeking for God's fulfillment in my life.

[A] What I do daily -- going to work, raising children, handling tough situations, etc. -- will be just that; how I lead my life in order for God's fulfillment to come through is what will matter in the long run.

[P] Dear Father, may Your promises come true through my life because I would be moved by Your Spirit to obey Your words in the Bible.  May I not be too worried about what's going on around me.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

But He Knows the Way I Take

[S] Job 23:10 --
10 "But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

[O] Job states that he is unable to track where God is working no matter how hard he tries, but he know for certain that he will equip him to come forth as precious and pure as gold to uphold His purposes in this world.  This comes from a man who had just lost everything he treasured for no specific reason and struggled through listening to his friends' blaming him for what he deserved.  He is not going to try to understand everything but to recognize God's purpose for his life and his commitment to live it out.

[A] Not even close to Job's experiences of loss and turmoil, but as I face challenges after another in my life, I should not try to understand everything but to glorify God for equipping me to handle His purpose designed for my life -- and be satisfied with just knowing that.

[P] Dear Father, I'm so grateful for Your preparing my life despite the difficulties I may run into.  May I not focus on the difficult situations but to You O God for doing the wonderful things even if I do not see or understand them.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.