What Should We Devote Ourselves to?

- There are four elements that are vital for church growth and individual spiritual growth: studying and applying God's Word, having fellowship with other believers, receiving the Lord's supper (in remembrance of Christ's death for our sins), and praying. These bring about unity among brothers and sisters in Christ and draw unbelievers to Christ. The early Church set up an example for what Christian churches and Christian individuals ought to do.
- The apostles' teaching--The early Christians grew in knowledge of the truth by steadfastly attending to the Apostles' teaching which is the same with the teachings of Christ. 
- Fellowship is brothers and sisters in Christ (the Body of Christ) doing life together and sharing with one another. The early Christians met together, ate together, worshiped God together, and took care of one another's needs. Fellowship helps us strengthen and build one another up in the faith. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
- Breaking of bread--This may refer to sharing meals or partaking in the Lord's supper. 

- Prayers--The early Christians recognized the importance of prayer (privately and publicly), their need for God's help. Want revival? Be people of prayer! "Pray continually!" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

"I have never met anyone who spent time in daily prayer, and in the study of the Word of God, and was strong in faith, who was ever discouraged for very long." (Billy Graham)

Do Good to All

Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (not only locally but also globally) whenever we can. We must not forget or neglect our brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs. The sick, poor, weak, sorrowful, discouraged, and distressed are in every congregation and around the world. Are you too busy that you miss opportunities to do good to others? A friend who wants to talk...a child who has a problem...an elderly woman who needs snow shoveled off her driveway? Seize each opportunity to do good deeds. Give cheerfully and generously to those in need. Help others out not just physically but also emotionally (comfort, encouragement, listening ears, hugs) and spiritually (praying, restoring as in Galatians 6:1).

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” (John Wesley)

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now." (Unknown)

"God is not glorified when we kept for ourselves (no matter how thankfully) what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, uneducated, unmedicated, and unfed millions." (John Piper)

Prayer: Lord, please give me Your eyes so that I may see the needs of others and all the opportunities You have placed in my path to do good to them and please help me to seize the moment for Your glory. 

Below is a video that my daughter made of her short term mission trip onboard the Logos Hope in 2011 (she was 18). I love this song, Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath, which goes well with the verse above.

Christlike Virtues

- To live a life worthy of the calling we have received and to cultivate unity among the Body of Christ, we must embrace these virtues: humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Imitate Christ! He is humble, gentle, patient, and loving. All these virtues reflect the character of Christ. These virtues can be produced consistently only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

- Be completely humble. Be teachable. Submit to the will of God. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21) Acknowledge God in all your ways (Proverbs 3:6a). Don't be arrogant or prideful. Be willing to perform menial but necessary tasks. Have a servant's heart. Put others above selves. No boasting/bragging.

- Be gentle/meek. Sweet-tempered. Tender spirit. Not harsh or aggressive or violent or overbearing or oppressive. Respond and react to unpleasant, rude people with graciousness. Power and strength under control.  

- Be patient. Wait without complaining. Not easily provoked to anger. Not easily annoyed or irritated. Be longsuffering (calmly enduring difficulties). Do not overreact.

- Bear with one another in love (agape). Overlook offenses. Bear with others' imperfections and inconsideration. Forgive. No revenge or retaliation. Endure and "if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18) Be sympathetic. Carry one another's burdens. Act in grace and mercy. Respect other people's different opinions and preferences.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me and being patient with me! Please enable me to be humble, gentle, patient, and loving like Jesus. Please make me be more like Christ and help me die to self each day. When others look at me, may they only see Christ in me. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Live in Unity

God made each one of us unique and special with different gifts, strengths, and personalities. Yet He calls us to come together as one Body for the purpose of serving and glorifying Him. Love for God is the basis of our unity. It is very good (proper, valuable, profitable) and pleasant (lovely, attractive, sweet) when brothers and sisters in Christ live together in unity (oneness). It is, in fact, Heavenly (in Heaven, we will all be together in perfect unity worshiping our Heavenly Father). God is pleased and we are blessed. The world will take notice. God's kingdom will grow. Imagine what we could accomplish if all Christians could be unified/united! I believe one of Satan's favorite schemes is to cause division in the Body of Christ. The disunity among Christians discredits their testimonies, disgraces Christ's Name, and gives nonbelievers a distaste for Christianity & an excuse not to come to Christ. "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25) On the contrary, the unity among Christians is what God desires and what Jesus prays fervently for. In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples and for all believers that they "may be one as We are One--I in them and You in Me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:22b-23) Mutual love brings about joy and delight; unity brings about beauty and blessings. We are better together!

Prayer: May God help us "be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that we may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that we may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3) 

"In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity!" (Rupertus Meldenius)

The Body of Christ

- We, Christ's followers, make up the Body of Christ. We are one in Christ. When one part suffers, every part suffers. When one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. That's the way it should be! "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15) Whatever one part feels, it affects all other parts of the whole body. The Body of Christ everywhere in the world should be affected by the persecution of the Church anywhere. Whenever any part of the Body has a need, we should help that part. "All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." (1 Peter 3:8) Please remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for our Savior, who are beaten for loving Jesus, who risk all to serve the King of kings, who give up everything to follow the Prince of Peace, who sacrifice so that others can hear the Good News. "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3)

- If a brother or sister in Christ is honored with great gifts or high praise/admiration or prominent position/platform or any kinds of blessings, other members in God's family should rejoice with him/her, instead of being envious, upset, or discouraged. "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." (Romans 12:4-6a) We need to value and celebrate our differences. We need to cooperate and work together in unity for the kingdom of God.

Faithful Friend

- Moses had to hold up his hands (holding the staff of God) as a visible sign that Israel's victory was in God's hands. As long as his hands were up, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Well, Moses' hands grew tired and he needed help. We do, too. We are not meant to serve God alone or fight a battle alone. If we try to go solo, eventually, we will be exhausted, weary, and burnt out...(not just physically but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually). When the Body of Christ works together, we can persevere and prevail.

- Just like Aaron and Hur did for Moses, we can help one another. We all need faithful friends who encourage, edify, support, assist, comfort, hug, pray for, pray with, rejoice with, and weep with us. And we need to be the same kind of friends to others. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) We, the Body of Christ, have been given different spiritual gifts. Each role is significant in the kingdom of God. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

- Prayer: Father, thank You for faithful friends You've provided me. Please help me to be humble and honest when I need help from others. Please also help me be a blessing and encourager to others. Please guide me and show me how I can best help them in each situation. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Women Who Honor the Word of God

- Older Christian women are called to encourage, train, guide, and counsel younger women. Women who have walked with the Lord for a long time should be good examples/role models to younger women.
- Married women are to love their husbands and children with God's love which includes self-denial, sacrifice, and service. A wife is to be a loving helper and best friend to her husband, seeks to honor him, desires to please him, supports him, and stays faithful to him. Mothers are to love their children, care for them, want the best for them, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- We women must be self-controlled/ sensible and pure (referring primarily to moral purity and especially in this context, to sexual purity and marital faithfulness). Self-discipline is doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do, regardless of feelings. Be wise and prudent in conduct. Be pure in thoughts, words, and actions.
- Married women are to be keepers at home, managing household affairs and taking care of their family. "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." (Proverbs 31:27) We are to be busy at home, not become busybodies somewhere else.
- We are to be kind. Do we speak kind words and respond in kindness with our husbands and kids?
- Wives are to be submissive/obedient to their own husbands. "The Greek word translated obedient is a military term which indicates voluntary submission to the one in authority." (from NKJV Study Bible's commentary) A wife chooses willingly to place herself in a position under the headship of her husband so that there can be order and function in the family. This submission does not allow dictatorship by the husband and in no way implies superiority of the husband over the wife.
- The honor of God's Word is the motivation for right conduct. The way we live should honor God and draw others to Christ. When we follow God's way, we experience a blessed & beautiful life. 

Discipleship in the Family

- This is the greatest commandment of all! We are to love God with all our being above all else...with undivided devotion which will result in knowing Him, esteeming Him, delighting in Him, revering Him, trusting Him, worshiping Him, serving Him, and obeying Him.

- God's Word/commands are to be on our hearts (and in our mind). We must be a good example to our children by taking delight in God's Word ourselves and applying God's Word in our lives.

- For the perpetuation of God's principles among His people, they were to teach their children diligently and frequently at home. Back in the Old Testament time, books were few and scattered, the people were to write important parts of the Law on their doorposts and tie them on their hands/arms and foreheads, and talk of them constantly. The purpose was to remember, to be reminded, to be aware all day long of God and His Holy Word (you know how the Israelites (we also) had a track record of forgetting what God had done for them :)). 

- It is clear here that it's the parents' responsibility to train, educate, disciple, equip, and nurture their children with God's Word. "Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4b) We must teach our kids to love and follow God; otherwise, the world will teach them to love and follow the world (worldliness). We also must live out our faith at home. Our children are learning from us, whether we realize it or not. To them, the things we do or don't do speak just as loudly as the things we say. Discipleship in the family begins with the parents' commitment to God and His commands (verses 5 and 6). Our children can tell if these commandments are on our hearts and being lived out in our lives or not. It will not do our children any good if we do not walk the talk! Hypocrisy in parent(s) will likely turn children away from God.  

- I am thankful for homeschooling. It gives me plenty of opportunities daily to impress God's Word on my children, to talk & discuss about the Scriptures, and to answer any questions they may have about God and His Word. God and His Word should be so central to a Christian family that parents should naturally talk about Him and the Bible as they interact with their children in everyday experiences. We must help our children see God and how the Bible is relevant in all aspects of life. "Passing on the faith is more than imparting biblical knowledge or explaining theology. It's living it out. When children see faith lived out in the everyday activities of life, they're more apt to catch it." (from the book, Motivate Your Child). In our family, we desire God's Word to be heard, seen (displayed), read, studied, memorized, and applied everyday and everywhere. Every opportunity should be taken to instill the knowledge of God and His Word (which reveals His heart and will) into our children's hearts and mind.

Choose Whom You Will Serve

Joshua told the Israelites to make a decision for themselves whether they would serve the Lord who had been faithful to them or serve false gods which were man-made idols. Regardless of their decision, Joshua made his commitment for his family to serve the one true living God. It's his resolution. By making a bold stand with no compromise, Joshua made an incredible impact on his people (the people said to Joshua, "We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God" in verse 18 and "We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him" in verse 24). Joshua was a great leader!

As for me and my house (family), we will serve the Lord (as far as I can influence them). We as a family serve the Lord but when the children are grown up and are out of the house, they'll have to make their own choices whether they will continue to serve the Lord. That's why it's so important to model a life of faith, love, & service day in and day out in front of our children and to pray for them without ceasing. Children and others can tell about our commitment, values, and priorities by how we live.

God gives us the freedom of making choices because He loves us and He wants to have a genuine loving relationship with us. Forced love is no love. God desires our sincere service that comes from our willingly devoted hearts. Even now, people can still choose God or choose idols (such as wealth, popularity, career, man-made religions,...anything but God). We all have an opportunity to affect the world (for good or for evil) through our decisions. We can live to gratify selves or to glorify God. We can choose to put ourselves first or put others first. Life is filled with choices...from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep...day after day. Choices always have consequences which no one can escape...good or bad. We are accountable for our choices. Some consequences are more serious than others. Choose wisely/rightly! "Choice is a bittersweet gift. Those in Heaven will always be grateful they had it and will have it always, with no fear of sin or condemnation; those in Hell will always regret that they didn't exercise it differently." (Randy Alcorn)

Suitable Helper

- This is the first time in Genesis that God gave a negative remark ("It is not good for the man to be alone"). God saw and knew the man's need. He made Eve to become Adam's suitable companion and helper. Suitable = truly fitting, fully adequate, just right. God gave marriage as a gift to Adam and Eve. They were created perfect for each other. Companionship replaces isolation. However, for companionship to be satisfying and God-glorifying, there must be oneness in the marriage (Genesis 2:24). Self-centeredness destroys oneness and companionship. I believe that self-centeredness is the root cause of most divorces.
- "The word for helper in Hebrew does not mean 'servant' or 'slave.' The word is most commonly used in the Bible in reference to God as our helper, often in a military sense. A helper in this sense would be someone--superior or equal-- who comes alongside to support another in a situation that can't be handled alone. According to this passage, man needed help--a partner every bit his equal whose strengths would compensate for his weaknesses." (commentary from the book, "Building a Marriage That Really Works") Jesus used the same word (the Greek equivalent) in John to describe the Holy Spirit. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26) Helper is one who helps and has the ability to help. Do not think lowly of this significant role. It's not a second-class status. In God's eyes, a helper is very important, valuable, and necessary. It doesn't mean superiority or inferiority.
- Prayer: Thank You, Father, for being my constant Help! Please help me to be the best helper for my husband. Please bless our marriage to always be Christ-centered and be pleasing & honoring to You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

"There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage." (Martin Luther)

Worse Than An Unbeliever

Even most unbelievers take care of their own families/relatives in distress. What kind of testimony would we, Christ's followers, be giving to the world if we don't provide for our own families (who cannot provide for themselves)? It would be denying the Christian faith (bringing disgrace to the name of Christ) and we would be worse off than the unsaved. We must take this responsibility seriously. The command to honor your parents (Exodus 20:12) does not have time limit/age limit. Jesus honored Mary, His mother, by making sure she would be taken care of by John after His death. 

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5:6b) Authentic faith will be expressed through genuine love for God and for others (including our own relatives). Love in action is caring, assisting, supporting, giving, providing, meeting their needs. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17)

"Many wait to live a life of self-denial on the mission field instead of living in such a way in their own home." (Greg Gordon)

Loving and Caring for the Unwanted

Tomorrow is World Leprosy Day. Leprosy is not just a disease people had in Bible times; it is still an infectious disease today. "There are tens of thousands of people suffering from leprosy in more than 1,000 leprosy colonies throughout South Asia. Leprosy is a bacterial disease that attacks the nervous system, particularly the nerves of the hands, feet and face. As the body absorbs cartilage into its system, victims of the disease slowly lose their fingers, toes and even limbs. The social stigma is devastating, perhaps even worse than the disease itself." (taken from http://www.gfa.org/pray/leprosy/ ) Often there's no one there for them. They have to deal with not only leprosy but also loneliness. This chronic infectious, disfiguring disease has left them shunned from society and even from their own family and friends. They suffer not only from physical pain but also from emotional pain (of being rejected, abandoned, and unwanted).

In the midst of this gloom, some missionaries from Gospel for Asia have reached out to these afflicted ones with the love and light of Jesus Christ, offering them hope and help desperately needed. They wash the clothes of leprosy patients, cut their hair & nails, dress their wounds, and bathe them. They also share the Gospel with them, counsel, encourage and pray for them. They put Christ's love in action; they serve the Lord by serving these people, the unwanted. This is part of Gospel for Asia’s leprosy ministry called Reaching Friends Ministry. “It is because of God’s grace that we have the strength, courage and motivation to work among these people, to share with them, to hug them, to love them and to care for them,” Pastor Jiva says (Quote from Compelled by Love for Those with Leprosy). Gospel for Asia also opened a hospital providing best treatments and friendly staff to care for these patients.

Find out how you can pray for the ministry and the patients here.
Read more about the works of these dedicated, compassionate missionaries here.
Read about the a healing story here.
Find out how you can support this important ministry here.

Gospel for Asia provides their leprosy patients with:

• Nourishing meal each day
• Medical treatments so their wounds can heal faster
• Custom shoes for their disfigured and hurting feet
• Hygiene supplies

100% of what you give toward the field goes to the field.

Please consider donating to this great cause. You can also be a voice for the hurting by spreading an awareness about this problem.

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.'" (Matthew 25:40)

Love Your Enemies

- This must be one of the most difficult commands in the Bible. Some might consider it extreme kindness but according to Jesus, that's what sets His followers apart from unsaved sinners (see verses 32-34). We are to love our enemies not just in words but also in action ("do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back"). Only the supernatural love of God can accomplish this. This is agape love (unconditional, selfless, sacrificial kind of love). Love those who hate you. Do good to those who hurt you. Lend (give) to those who take advantage of you. 

• "We cannot choose whom we will love if we claim to be Christians." (~Anonymous)

- When we do these things, God will bless us and at the same time, we show to the world that we're truly children of the Most High God (El Elyon). When the world looks at us, do they see our resemblance to our Heavenly Father? Our unexpected love for our enemies is a testimony to pure charity and to the power of God Most High.

- Imitate God. He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. He was kind to us when we were His enemies. Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). God wants us to be kind, merciful, compassionate towards our enemies, not just friends or people whom we like. We are to be kind to them without expecting anything in return (including thanks). In fact, this frees us from anxieties of expecting anything back. Many people cannot or will not repay. We must examine our hearts/motives. Do all things in love for the glory of God! Love the ungrateful and the undeserving just as God does. Be kind to mean people. Kindness often draws people to God and to repentance. May our lives reflect our gratitude to God for His unfailing love for us by loving others with His love! May His love in us manifest through us when our human love fails! May we never forget how God first loved us...the unloving!

Blessings of Companionship and Fellowship

- Two are better than one. Association is better than isolation. Some benefits of companionship include productivity (good reward from mutual effort), assistance, comfort (verse 11), defense/ protection in danger (verse 12). Two people working together can get more done and can encourage each other along. When two people walk together, one can pick the other up if he/she falls (both literally and figuratively). Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (which is the law of love)." (Galatians 6:2)

- The Body of Christ is God's idea. We're created to be in community...to work together for God's glory and for His kingdom. "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone.'" (Genesis 2:18a) If it was not good in a perfect world (before sin entered), it is much worse in a fallen world. God advocates companionship and fellowship. God is pro-community as clearly demonstrated in the relationship and roles of the Trinity. God wants us to be dependent on Him and interdependent upon one another. There are lots of "one another" commands in the New Testament. We are a family in Christ. We should love and care about one another and pray for one another. Solitariness promotes selfishness. Cooperation helps us become more effective in our lives and ministries. Friendship is valuable. We (even the introverts) need one another. We can help one another in times of need. Absence of companionship and friendship result in loneliness. We become stronger and better when we live in community with others. Let's do life together and be committed team players! And reach out to people in your community with Christ's love and His Gospel of God's grace.

"Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." (~Swedish Proverb)

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." (~African proverb)

Accept One Another

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:7 NIV)

- This is a command to accept/ welcome one another, regardless of whether they are strong believers or weak believers. Paul wanted the Body of Christ to have unity. If Christ accepts all Christians, we must do the same. We must not reject any brother or sister in Christ, who is also God's child/servant. Christ is our Lord and Master; to Him alone all believers are accountable. We are to love, serve, forgive, and accept one another just as Christ has done for us (even though He knows everything about us...the good, the bad, and the ugly). Christ accepts both the Jews and the Gentiles who put their faith in Him. We are called to bear with one another's weaknesses. Treat one another with grace, mercy, respect, humility, patience, gentleness, compassion, and kindness even when we may disagree/have different opinions and/or have different personalities (some of which may seem unpleasant/annoying to you). We are to accept all brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere in the world no matter if they speak different languages and come from different cultures. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord! Welcome them with open arms.

- The purpose is to bring praise and glory to God! Our Heavenly Father is glorified when we, His children, truly love one another not just in words but also in actions and live in harmony with one another.

"If the Lord Jesus has indeed received us, and bears with our weaknesses and follies, well may we have patience with one another, and show pity to each other's infirmities. Christ did not receive us because we were perfect, because he could see no fault in us, or because he hoped to gain somewhat at our hands. Ah, no! but, in loving condescension covering our faults, and seeking our good, he welcomed us to his heart; so, in the same way, and with the same purpose, let us receive one another." (Charles Spurgeon)

"Some people can be difficult to love
And so we do not even try to care,
But God says, 'Love them just as I've loved you--
You'll bring Me glory as My love you share.'"
(Cetas)

- Prayer: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you and me the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you and I may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Romans 15:5-6)

Lyrics:
When you are going to judge
You need to take a second look
Not at your brother's speck
But the warning that's in The Book
'Cause who alone can judge
Except the One who knows our mind?
He knows the inner man
And difficulties we may find

So often we condemn (Condemn)
And our minds are never in gear (Minds are never in gear)
Our feelings then are led (Are led)
By suspicious, crippling fear (Suspicious, crippling)
To love our brothers now (Now)
We've got to use our Master's eyes (Eyes)
So we will not condemn
The result will be a surprise when we...

Chorus:
Accept one another without judging your brother
The Lord has been good to you
Accept one another without judging your brother
It's the Godly thing you ought to do
Accept one another without judging your brother
There's no need to cause a fight
Accept one another without judging your brother
It's the Godly way of living right

What do you want yourself (What do you want?)
When it comes right down to a choice?
Is judgement what you want (What you want)
Or a kind and merciful voice (Merciful voice)
To tell you that they care
And are overlooking the bad?
They know your faults so well
But are accepting you instead

And now we leave with your choice
Won't you tell me what'll you do? (What'll you do?)
The measures that you use
Is the measure that's used for you
So when you're prone to judge
Won't you think of this simple song
Before you make mistakes
By judging and treating them wrong, instead...

Repeat Chorus

When you think of what He's done
Givin' up His only son
Livin' in a world of hate
How can you retaliate?
Knowing what he's done for me
Following His legacy
I'm gonna rise above
Accepting those that He has loved

Repeat Chorus

It's the Godly way of living right
It's the Godly way of living right

Christlike Humility

- "Do nothing out of selfish ambition (selfishness/self gain) or vain conceit (empty pride/vain opinion about oneself/desire of praise, attention, or admiration)." "Whereas selfish ambition pursues personal goals, empty conceit seeks personal glory and acclaim. The former pertains to personal accomplishments; the latter to an over inflated self-image. Understandably, a person with such conceit considers himself always to be right and expects others to agree with him. The only unity he seeks or values is centered on himself." (MacArthur) Paul wanted us to realize that in order to have unity (having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind as stated in verse 2), we must get rid of self-centeredness and pride. Preoccupation with self destroys the unity among the Body of Christ. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:25-26)

- "Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."--Humility is the antidote for vain conceit and consideration for others is the antidote for selfish ambition. We should not focus on our needs & significance and be completely absorbed by our own concerns. Instead, we should be thoughtful and considerate of others and seek to meet the needs of others. "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" (1 Peter 5:5b) "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10) In love and humility, we see others as worthy of preferential treatment and we want the best for them. True humility is about self-denial. A truly humble person yields himself/herself to Christ to be a servant, to use what he/she is and has for the glory of God and the good of others. To put others above ourselves is contrary to our human nature and can only be accomplished by the power of the indwelling Spirit in us. "Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights." (John R. Wooden) "Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all." (~William Temple) "It is not a weak man’s surrender, but a strong man’s rejection of selfishness and determination to be actively concerned with the needs and interests of others." (Richards) 

Want true joy? "J.O.Y." "J" for Jesus first, "O" for others next, and "Y" for yourselves last. "As we esteem others better, we will naturally have a concern for their needs and concerns; this sort of outward looking mentality naturally leads to a unity among the people of God. If I am considering you above me, and you are considering me above you, a marvelous thing happens: we have a community where everyone is looked up to, and no one is looked down on." (Guzik) Humility brings unity!

- "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."--We need to imitate Christ and have the same attitude/mindset as He does. Christ is the Ultimate Example of humility, servanthood, and radical obedience. When we have Christlike attitude, we're willing to give up our own rights for the good of others; we discover that it's far better to submit, to serve, and to love than to have our own way. When we have Christlike mindset, we have the selfless, sacrificial, submissive, and serving mind. Christ teaches self-denial not only with His words but also by His actions. Christians are to move from self-seeking/self-promotion to self-denial. "From self denial in the spiritual worship of God flows self surrender to the will of God, and from self surrender flows selfless service in the work of God." (John MacArthur)

"Oh, to see the needs of others

More important than our own,

Following our Lord's example

When He left His heavenly throne." (Sper)

"Others, Lord, yes, others,

Let this my motto be;

Help me to live for others,

That I might live like Thee."
(Charles D. Meigs)  

- This song is my prayer.

Book Review: hand in Hand by Randy Alcorn

My Review:
God is sovereign. And God gives people the freedom of choices ("purposeful permission"). Some people have trouble reconciling God's sovereignty with human choice. In this book, Randy Alcorn thoroughly explores what the Bible says about this complicated, controversial issue. He also explains in great details about what Calvinists believe and what Arminians believe. His approach is well-balanced and he aims for unity among the Body of Christ. "There are better questions than 'Are you a Calvinist or an Arminian?' One of those is 'What does the Bible actually teach?' And 'Do you believe it?' Let's trust all of God's words, not just the ones that fit neatly into a preferred theological system or church tradition. That's my approach in this book." (p. 31)

Each chapter starts with Scriptures and an insightful quote. I really appreciate all the charts and diagrams since I'm a visual learner :). They are very helpful in comparing different views. The book includes small-group discussion questions. I am thankful that Randy Alcorn answers theological questions in a way that is easy to understand. I learned some new terms such as Determinism, Compatibilism, Monilism, Libertarianism, and Open Theism. This book will help readers understand God more deeply and appreciate the beautiful, mysterious interweaving of His sovereignty and meaningful human choice more. God's sovereignty does not negate human's responsibility! I'm forever grateful to be walking with God hand in Hand. Charles Spurgeon said, "There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than that of God's sovereignty." I wholeheartedly agree! I enjoyed reading this excellent, thought-provoking book and highly recommend it to anyone!

"Both Arminian and Calvinist pastors continuously call upon their people to make choices to follow Christ, reject false doctrine, and embrace the truth (including the truth about God's sovereignty)...God can and does move the hearts of people to draw them toward himself, but while he empowers them to choose to believe, it's also true that they genuinely choose to believe." (p. 72)

"What seems clear in Scripture is that we choose and are accountable for our choices--yet God reigns over all, over everything he approves and disapproves of, including our choices. His hand is over us, yet our hand is in his." (p. 100)

"In that sense, God changes in his attitudes and actions in response to our repentance, prayers, or sin. But God doesn't change in his essence, character, knowledge, plans, or purposes. In those respects, we change; he doesn't." (p. 110)

"Choice is a bittersweet gift. Those in Heaven will always be grateful they had it and will have it always, with no fear of sin or condemnation; those in Hell will always regret that they didn't exercise it differently." (p. 149)

"In making our real and difficult choices, we depend upon God's empowerment." (p. 160)

"What we should take most seriously in forming our habits of thinking, action, prayer, and evangelism is not our theological systems but Scripture." (p. 212)

~I received a free copy of this book via Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Randy Alcorn is an author and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching principles of God’s Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world. His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity. He accomplishes this by analyzing, teaching, and applying the biblical truth. Before starting EPM in 1990, Randy served as a pastor for fourteen years. He has an MA degree in Biblical Studies from Multnomah University and an Honorary Doctorate from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and has taught on the adjunct faculties of both. A New York Times bestselling author, Randy has written more than forty books, including the bestsellers Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home. His books in print exceed seven million and have been translated into over thirty languages. Randy has written for many magazines including EPM’s quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives. He is active daily on Facebook and Twitter, has been a guest on more than 700 radio, television and online programs including Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, Revive Our Hearts, The Bible Answer Man, and The Resurgence. Randy and his wife Nanci have two married daughters and are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research, and reading. Randy Alcorn currently resides in Gresham, in the state of Oregon.

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