James 1:9-11

One thing that's inevitable.
One thing that will come to all.
One thing that everyone will experience.
One thing that has no escape.
DEATH!

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. James 1:9-11

whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14

Life is like a flower that perish away. Life is like a vapour that appears for little while and then vanishes away. No one knows how long he or she can live for. No one knows when we'll pass away.

Yet, when you do pass away, what legacy are you leaving behind? What do people remember you for? What have you done with your life? What have you done with Jesus?

It is possible to live under a delusion. You think you are kind, considerate and gracious when you are really not. You think you are building positive stuff into your children when in reality, if you could check with them twenty years later, you really didn't. What if you could read your own obituary? How do people really see you? Here is the story of a man who did.

One morning in 1888 Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as a result of a simple journalistic error. You see, it was Alfred's brother that had died and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother. Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances, but to Alfred the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him.

The "Dynamite King," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Alfred's life. None of his true intentions to break down the barriers that separated men and ideas for peace were recognized or given serious consideration. He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone he would be remembered.

As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune. His last will and testament--an endowment of five annual prizes for outstanding contributions in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace (the sixth category of economics was added later)--would be the expression of his life's ideals and ultimately would be why we would remember him.

The result was the most valuable of prizes given to those who had done the most for the cause of world peace. It is called today, the "Nobel Peace Prize."

For Alfred Nobel, he left a legacy of being the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, what legacy are you leaving behind?

Christians, what are you doing for God on this earth? What have you done for Him? Have you been serving Him and giving your time, effort, energy, resources for His work and glory? Have you been living a life that's pleasing to His sight? Have you been living each day in anticipation of His second coming?

Non-Christians, where are you headed for after you die? Heaven or hell? What have you done with Jesus today? Have you rejected Him and think that you can do it by yourself? Have you thought that you can make it to heaven in your own strength and merits? What have you done with the free gift of salvation that God has given you?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Hebrews 3:15

Open you hearts to receive Jesus today.

Death is real, what preparation have you made yet?

1 Corinthians 1

I'm reading through the book of 1 Corinthians recently and will be reading one chapter a day, so decide to share one main point from each chapter as I proceed along this book and I hope this simple sharing will minister to you as you read this post.



The pictures above show Roger Federer, Thiery Henry and Tiger Woods, who are considered one of the best in their respective areas.

In this world, we are always looking for the most qualified person for a job. We are always on the lookout for the most talented person and we 'book' him. The smartest person is highly honoured. When we look for a team of people, we look for the best in terms of skills, talents and gifts.

Sadly, we have brought this attitude to church. We tend to judge others. We tend to choose only the best person to do certain things, and we deem others as unworthy. We favour the rich, famous, powerful, beautiful and talented and look down on the weak, poor, unknown, unlovable and untalented people. By focusing on the abilities and talents of the person, we are thinking like the world and not like God.

From past to present, God has never focus on choosing the most qualified or talented, He's simply looking for a man or woman who's willing to serve. He's looking for a humble person!

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

It is said that God do not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

As James 5:16 puts it 'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.' There is beauty in confessing sins, there is beauty in sharing experience.

Firstly, it helps others learn from my mistake. Secondly, it reminds myself of the mistakes and for me not to do it again. Thirdly, it helps others pray for me better after knowing my struggles and needs.

I would like to share one struggle in my life, and that is pride. I struggle with the sin of pride countless times and God has to break me down over and over again and remind me that I am nothing.

I remember there was one time I was at Adam Road and I boasted about how good I was, serving in the children ministry, the various activities we are having, how great the plans are, what's going to happen and stuff. It was all about ME!

After that, when I looked back, I'm disgusted by my pride. What a proud and boastful person I am! I can claim to be doing it for God's glory, but deep within, I'm snatching His glory. This is a pride hypocrite! I need to come back to God, confess my sins and ask Him to forgive me.

Even now, there are times when I struggle with pride. A sinful and proud thought enter my mind and I'm tempted to sin. At that moment, I need to catch the thought and say to myself, 'I'm doing this for God's glory, not mine.'

Please pray for me and with me that as I serve in Children Ministry, I would not be proud, I would not snatch God's glory, but I'll humble myself and depend on Him.

Pride hinders our effectiveness for God.
Looking to ourselves make our service for God futile.
Humility enhances our effectiveness for God.
Looking to God make our service for God fruitful.

James 1:6-8

Stability VS Instability
Faith VS Doubt
Dependence VS Independence
God VS Me

In James 1:6-8, we see that in these verses, it describes an instable, doubtful, independent, and me-centered person. Here is someone like the wave being tossed to and fro, someone who is easier sway from one side to the other.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

When we come to God, we should come to Him by faith, with no doubting.
When we come to God in prayer, we need to ask in faith.

A double-minded man will not receive anything from God.
He or she will not be blessed by the Lord.

Faith connects us with the blessings of God.
Doubts separates us from the blessings of God.

James 1:5

The power of God's Word!

I was just reading James 1:5-8 today. One of my purpose was to find a verse that I could blog about. As I read those few verses, I decided to blog about James 1:5. I understood the verse from an intellectual point of view, kind of like head knowledge.

Now, here I am blogging this verse after understanding it not just intellectually, but experientially. Chemistry Paper 1 is tomorrow. And as I did some revision today, there were quite a number of stuff that I do not know and I got a little nervous and scared. I tried to ask people for help and stuff, but none could actually help me. It never crossed my mind that I could turn to God.

Until, I decided to take a break from studying and blog. At this moment, I realised that I was blogging about James 1:5 and I read the verse. And I saw the light!

God was reminding me that I could turn to Him, I could ask Him for wisdom. At that moment, I uttered a quick prayer. I'm amazed at how God can use verses to remind and encourage us.

Praise the Lord! After turning to God, one of my friend said that he can help me tomorrow.

I'm totally rebuked. It seems as though, God is saying, 'Marcus, remember... Seek Me first!'

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

What is wisdom?
Wisdom is Christian enlightenment, godly principles and knowledge.

Who has wisdom?
God!

How to get wisdom?
Ask God! Through prayer or through the reading of His Word.

If I ask, will I get wisdom?
God says yes! He will give to all liberally and without reproach. Liberally means that God gives freely. Without reproach assures us that God gives without reminding us of our unworthiness.

James 1:2-4

Moving on to the Book of James. Was reading and thinking through James 1:2-4.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Trials and struggles is something that every Christian faces. It could come in the form of a failed relationship, a broken family, a insult or slander, bad results, etc. Yet, we are told to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. This is the response to trials - JOY!

Then we are told that the testing of our faith produces patience. This is the reason for trials - PATIENCE!

And finally, we are told to let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Perfect doesn't mean sinless but mature. When patience is allowed to grow and bear fruit, we will be spiritually mature, lacking nothing (as we are able to claim God's promises in His Word). This is the result of trials - MATURITY!