Quantity vs. Quality Friendship

[S] Proverbs 18:24 --  ²⁴A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
         But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

[O] Although I'm not sure having too many friends itself is a bad thing, but if my only goal was to have more friends (number wise) then I will be missing the point of having friends altogether because quantity of friends does not equate to the quality of friends.  Having said that, cultivating friends who stick closer than a brother is a tall order to follow.  In fact the way this verse is worded implies you start with one such a friend at a time.

[A] What a privilege it would be to cultivate a friend who so intimately walk this journey on earth together in Christ!  For me, this is what I long for in my home church where I may develop friendships that will not only last the life time, but sticks so close to each other along the way.  If I were to peel away the outer layers of the small group ministry, I would position building such friendships right at the core and that's what I'd like to contribute to the building of small group ministry at my church.

[P] Dear God, I realize that in order to find such a friend, I must also be such a friend first as this is a two-way street.  You inspired me to focus more in this area of my life and I will do that with the foundation of cultivating a relationship with You more intimately through my devotions and verse memorization.   In Jesus' name.  Amen.

How To Smile More

[S] Proverbs 15: -- A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

[O] The contrast between joyful and sad heart is highlighted by their consequences.  Cheerful face originates from a joyful heart and I'm sure people like to hang around those with joyful hearts because they'd make the whole circumstance bright.  However a sad heart breaks even the spirit.  What a detrimental consequence!

[A] I've heard comments that I need to smile more because when I don't I look mad.  Well, since I don't carry a mirror in front of me at all times, I would not even know when I'm not smiling, etc.  But this verse tells me that by working on my heart to be joyful, the cheerful face will come automatically.  So, I've found a solution to my struggle!

[P] Dear God, please show me how to work on my own heart to sustain joyfulness.  I want to overflow with cheerful face which will warm up places I go.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Whirlwind of Life

[S] Proverbs 10:25 -- When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

[O] Whirlwind passes through life at all time in all situations and there really is nothing to prevent it so the best way is to learn how to withstand it.  According to this verse, being righteous in the Lord is the way to set the foundation to withstand such whirlwinds in life.  We think we can build up something on our own such as money and role in society but those can crumble down at any time but there is nothing that can take away the righteousness in God.

[A] This verse is a compass for setting life's course because while it's so easy to build the foundation of life as power and prestige in society, I need to set it as righteousness in God by being faithful to Him.

[P] Dear God, I would like to lay the foundation of my life to be the righteous person mentioned in this verse.  I want to withstand various whirlwinds that I will face in my life.  Please guide me to be such a man.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

My Wills vs. God's Mercy

[S] Romans 9:16 --  ¹⁶So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

[O] The two words "wills" and "mercy" contrasts each other because the "wills" described man's own efforts while "mercy" referred to God's offering regardless of man's efforts (good or bad). So, why am I trying so hard to live out my Christian life?  Yes, I should try my best to do that, but is there a way I can over do this beyond what pleases God?  From this verse, I find that if I am not under God's mercy, then my will-power and efforts alone will not produce the results that pleases God, or even impact the world in any way.  Today's passage is connected to yesterday's verse where emphasizing leaning on God's offerings first is crucial in living out my life which will please God and also to become the effective conduit for achieving His purposes on earth.

[A] As I face some significant changes in the small group ministry at our church, God's been whispering into my ears through these passages that He's (still) in control and not what I do but how much I lean on Him will make the difference in the end.  I will lean on Him 100%, each and every day.

[P] Dear God, Your awesome timing of encouragement is just blowing me away.  Thank You and I will continue to abide and lean on You. Please carry me through as I do that.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Shielding from Condemnation

[S] Romans 8:1 --  ¹Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

[O] I have read this verse many times before but today, my heart was excited to read about having no condemnation from God as long as I'm in Christ Jesus.  It may be because I've trying hard at my role in doing ministry and yet not seeing the fruits yet.  Paul's point of putting the significance in abiding in Christ Jesus and not of works seems to hit the right chord in my heart.

[A] Even before doing the ministry for Jesus, I must be in Him and abide in Him.  That means daily devotion with Him and also to memorize God's words to be engraved into my heart.

[P] Dear God, I praise You for shielding me from condemnation as long as I pursue to be abiding in You because I know there is no way for me to exclude me from You condemnation on my own but I can work on being in You.  Thank You for giving me an option which is achievable by me.

Sinful Passions Aroused by the Law

[S] Romans 7:5 --  ⁵For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

[O] The phrase "sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law" grabbed my attention because isn't Law supposed to keep us honest and away from sin?  I see a double-edges sword here because we need the Law to come to repentance by realizing the deviation from the perfectness of God's Laws but dwelling on that point will actually arouse us to sinful passions because we lack the grace of God in the whole equation.  In verse 6 Paul also says we ought to serve in newness of the Spirit and not the oldness in the letter.  So the letter (Law) without the Spirit (grace) will only push us away from what God desires from us.  Following the Law may look good to others but God who sees our hearts will not like it.

[A] Especially now as our small group ministry is approaching its 1 year mark, I'm seeing a lot of weariness from the leaders who have been trying their best to care and nurture the members in this pioneering phase of our church's small group ministry.  How can I convey the message of Paul here that we need to come together beyond the logistical aspects of our ministry and fall into the deeper presence of God's grace and the nurturing Spirit?  That is my homework.  I also need to pray for each of the leaders daily.

[P] Dear God, would you grant Your wisdom into my heart such that I would encourage these leaders to hold on and unite to come together in building up our small group ministry beyond this initial hump we're climbing over?  Thank You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

For My Sake

[S] 1 Kings 11:13 --  ¹³"However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."

[O] Solomon had veered away from following God's ways in his latter days and God was angry with Solomon (v. 9) and is going to tear away the kingdom Solomon had built up.  "However," for the sake of David, God's servant, one tribe will be given to Solomon's son; and as we know now through that lineage, God brought forth Jesus to provide the way out of our eternal separation from God.  As human beings, failures are inevitable and even Solomon who had the wisdom of God failed to uphold God's righteousness and holiness to the end of his life.  But it's so good to know that God honors and remembers his faithful servants and for their sakes He will carry on His promises.  Just as God confirmed to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 10 righteous people (Genesis 16:32) when Abraham asked, God seeks for those faithful servants who will stand in place of the wicked of this world.

[A] Humility comes to my mind as I reflect on this passage because that was one thing I can see David did not forgo throughout his life.  No matter what size of work I may do for God, I need to hold tight to the humility before God.

[P] Dear God, I totally desire to live a life to my last breath to uphold Your holiness and righteousness on top of a servant's humility.  Please grant me this desire.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.