Not mine but Yours

Do listen to this song as you read through this post. :)



The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are filled with much truths and principles. As I read through the Book of Luke, I came across a verse that we have seen so often, but maybe have zoom past it too quickly so often.

Luke 22:42
'Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.'

At a time when you are facing death in the face, when you know you are about to go through mankind worse form of torture and punishment, when you know that you are going to be betrayed, when you know that you are going to be abused physically, whipped, punched, kicked and slapped, when you know you are going to be insulted, mocked and laughed at, when you know that the people melting out all this punishment to you are the same people you love and created, when you know that you will be separated from God and go through this alone, what will you do?

I believe everyone would run away, everyone would want to escape, no one would be willing to go through this tough time, no one would be willing to be subjected to such pain and suffering. But look at what Christ did...

'Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.'

At such a time, He was still wanting and willing to obey God. He was willing to fulfill God's will. He wanted to please God.

The song below is entitled 'Blessed be Your name' and it's probably a favourite for many. But I hope that it is a favourite not because of its tune only, but for the lyrics and what it means. May each time we sing this song, we mean it as an act of worship and not a showcase of our voices.

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be Your name

My dear friend, whatever you are going through today or at this point in your life happens for a purpose. It may be tough, it may be rough, it may be challenging, it may be problematic, it may be tiring, it may be draining, but we know, by FAITH, that ALL things work together for good to them that love God and to those who are called according to His purpose.

Can we say, when trials come and when things don't go our way, 'Father, not my will, but Yours be done'? Can we say, when the pain, hurts and sufferings of life comes, 'Lord, blessed be Your name'?

May the Lord find us faithful (Part 2)

We now move on to what are the practical ways we can be faithful.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:45-51)

Firstly, we are to be faithful in our service.

As seen in verse 48, the master of the house placed a particular servant as ruler over his household and his duty is to give them food in due season. In due season means at the right time. I suppose that giving them food probably refers to giving the animals food. In other words, the job of the servant is to feed the animals at the right time. Hey, this is not an easy job. It's boring and routine and the servant has to do it every day and he has to ensure that he feeds them at the right time. But he's faithful in this ministry and thus when the master returns, he will be blessed.

Maybe God has placed you in a particular ministry, be faithful in that ministry. It may seem routine and boring, maybe you're getting sick and tired of it, press on, be faithful! Your reward is coming soon.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 25:14-30)

Secondly, we are to be faithful in our gifts and talents.

In the parable, the good servant invested and spend his talents and multiplied it. In the same way, we are to use our gifts and talents for God's glory. Maybe God has gifted you with the ability to run, then run for His glory. Maybe God has gifted you with the ability to plan games, then plan games for His glory. Maybe God has gifted you with the ability to play the violin, then play the violin for His glory. We need to be faithful in using the gifts and talents that God has blessed us with for His glory.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Luke 16:10-12

Thirdly, we need to be faithful in our money.

When one is able to be faithful in the area of money, then he or she is ready to be entrusted with true riches. When one is faithful in little things, then he or she is ready for greater things.