Category: Daily Devotions

Bible Reading: John 15:18-27

“If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:20, 26-27)

What would happen if your life was threatened today because you confessed to following Christ? What would you do? Would you give in and renounce Christ? Or would you face death for your faith? 

Ask yourself what your answer would be. Many of us would like to say yes, but we know our faith is weak. And those who say yes, their words can only be tested at the trial. 

The catch is this. God calls us to be witnesses of His kingdom. The world does not like — in fact, the Bible uses the term, hates — the world hates witness to God’s kingdom. And just as Christ was persecuted, all those who wholeheartedly follow Him will have the same experience if they are integral and true. 

The other catch is this. We should not be afraid; rather, we should trust in God. Christ promised the Helper, who is the Holy Spirit, to be our advocate. He is the Spirit of Truth and will bear true witness about Christ and the truth and hope in Him. On the other hand, we can release responsibility to serve Him. We must bear witness also, and when we do, the Spirit works at His pleasure to open the eyes of the blind to see the Truth we bring. 

In the end, the call of martyrdom boils down again to the basics. It is about simple obedience to God in all aspects of life. It may or may not involve physical death. However, we are called to obey God day by day, following His unfolding plan for our lives. 

If God calls us to be a martyr one day, trust that the Helper will be there to help and strengthen our faith. In the meantime, are we obeying and witnessing Christ in our daily lives? After knowing the surpassing love of Christ and the glory that awaits us, are we able to see the nothingness of persecution compared to the love that Christ brings?

Have you given your heart to obey God and know Him through his world? Are you willing to serve Him with all your days and hours here on earth, even though it is uncomfortable and painful? We cannot serve God and obey His ways unless He seeks us out and gives us faith. Have you laid down your life to live for God in total surrender and reliance on Him?

Lord, I only get to die once. If it is Your will, I would like to be privileged as a martyr. Prepare my heart and strengthen me as the days get more evil. Please help me to learn simple obedience today and start with the small things You have given a charge to me. Apart from Your work, all this is in vain. Do not leave or forsake us. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Psalm 74

“Yet God my King is from old, working salvation in the midst of the earth” (Psalm 74:12)

The more we grow up, the more we see evil powers that reign within this world. As young children, we would have been scared of the dark, concocting for ourselves imagery of satanic creatures that lurked around us in the absence of light. However, as we mature, we will realise, it is not that kind of Satan we must fear. 

In Asaph’s time, the foe or enemy was presented in physical nations who blundered Israel and obliterated their culture, replacing it with pagan worship, vile morality, and detestable sinful lifestyles of the flesh. In lament, Asaph sang, “How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?” (Psalm 74:10).

This age, past are the days of physical warfare in common civilian lives; much more in European post-colonial settings such as Australia, where we live now. Justice, peace, and civil rights seem to be the general progression of such societies, and sure, there are many positive benefits. 

Yet, note this. The same Satan who lurked and tempted in the days of Asaph is still here today. He may not entice and attack through physical warfare. However, today’s battles of philosophy in mainstream culture are far heated. As Asaph described, Satan’s works are still relevant today. 

“They profaned the dwelling place of [God’s] name, bringing it to the ground” (Psalm 74:7). “A foolish people revile your Name” (Psalm 74:18). “For the dark places of the land are full of habitations of violence” (Psalm 74:20). 

Through postmodern philosophical agendas, Satan is actively trying to instil the profaning of God’s name and dwelling place. These destroying philosophies that invite a deconstructed or alternate truth are so evidently grounded in those around us, our schools, friend circles, and greater society. Through these, the wicked prevail to reign, gaining power after power. 

As Christians, we ought to conduct ourselves in the manner Asaph did. One thing that God wants us to learn is our nothingness and complete dependence on Him. There is no guarantee we will not fall into one of Satan’s many destructible traps in this age. They are bountiful, and we are weak. 

Apart from Christ, there is no hope for us and our generation. We can strive to be excelling and obedient to all we want. Yet, no one is good enough and strong enough to stand. The times are getting eviller, and it is just a matter of time before we ourselves fall into the pothole of this age. 

What and where is our hope? It is not in our own capability. It is not in any man, religious leader, or pioneer of faith you look up to. All are broken, weak, and prone to fall no matter how big of a spiritual name they receive in this world. And, the reality is, Satan is much bigger, more intelligent, and more diligent than we are. 

Our only hope is in our unchangeable Christ, in knowing that God is sovereign over all things, even evil and destruction in this world. God wants to process us, teach us to cling to him alone, uphold His promises and commands, and put our full trust and identity only in His truth. 

God is our rock and fortress, the “defend[er] of our cause”. Only in Him can we find unshakeable hope and security. Apart from Him, we are nothing. But, God is for His children. He does not forget His covenant with them. He is their King from Old and continues to work out His grand plan of salvation. 

Hope in God. Trust in Him. He will get us through the storms of life and the wars we will have to fight. Cling to Him because He is faithful, trustworthy, and ultimately sovereign over all creatures, restoring all things until that glorious day where God’s Kingdom will be made known in full. 

Lord, in a secular age where worldly philosophies bombard us with ways leading us against You, please help us keep the faith. We are weak and sinners. We cannot stand before You, and there is no way we can fight the evil powers which try to oppose Your name. Please help us and give us discernment. Help us trust in You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading: Acts 10:34-48

“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (Acts 10:44)

Often after revival meetings and significant moments in our walk of faith, we have an unquenchable zeal to spread God’s Word. This is wonderful, of course. However, we must return to understand the basic concepts of ministry. 

The success of ministry and gospel-sharing has nothing to do with us. It does not matter how eloquent we are or how planned our marketing strategies are. Ministry and the advancement of God’s Kingdom boils down to one thing; the Spirit who works. 

Let’s take a step back to see the whole picture. 

God has a grand plan to restore His sinful world into one that once again worships and glorifies Him. This is not an egotistical goal. It is a wondrous end because God Himself is glorious and worthy of praise; even though our praises cannot add to His glory. On top of that, God knows that our greatest pleasure and contentment comes from glorifying Him and worshipping Him. God loved us so much, and He wanted to give us a second chance at living how He intended we originally lived. 

The crux of God’s plan was to send His only begotten Son to condescend for man to the point of death on a cross, so that man’s sins may be atoned for, and Christ’s righteousness imputed onto believing sinners. This is the good news of God’s plan; God Himself delved into our problem of sin to offer a solution, the only solution that meant the sacrifice of the Son. 

Now, Christ rose again on the third day and appeared to His chosen witnesses. To them, He commanded to bear witness to God’s grand plan of salvation until the ends of the earth. Those who believed in Him would return to God’s Kingdom. In other words, they would return to living the life God had originally intended for man, a life glorifying and enjoying God. 

He also left a promise that He would be coming back, and one day, on His second return, the whole world will be brought under the full Lordship of Christ, and the whole world will have to submit and acknowledge that Christ is the Lord and His ways are right. All who rebelled against Him will be punished as all rightly deserve. However, those who received God’s grace to believe will go and be with God for eternity, worshipping and glorifying Him. In all of this, God will be glorified, and He will accomplish His plan of salvation. 

Here is the thing. All of this is God’s plan. God is working it out bit by bit. It is a marvellous plan, a wondrous plan, and a plan that is beyond our imagination. When we fail to taste and see its goodness, pray that we may behold this glorious vision. 

From age to age, God is continually working through His Spirit to further His Kingdom. The world fails to see, but God is working big things, leading up to the day when He will return. 

Let’s return to the question, where does the success of ministry come from? 

We are not the engineers of God’s plan. We are sinful, broken, selfish human beings who have been given the opportunity of grace and a new life out of God’s lavish love. We are undeserving, unworthy, and unrightfully chosen as God’s people. If God is willing to use us to further His grand plan, it is a great privilege. He could do it much better without us, but He wants us to learn to serve Him and live for Him. 

Our part is simple child-like obedience. It is a humble heart and a willingness always to learn. It is getting up again when we fall, recommitting our hearts to Christ, and humbly learning in His strength to follow Him step by step. Where are you today? 

Lord, thank You for Your grand plan of salvation. Truly Your love is great and marvellous. I want to obey You, Lord, in fear and trembling. I want to submit to Your ways in child-like obedience. Forgive me, God. You know my failures. Please help me to obey You and to serve You faithfully. I surrender all in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

In the Christian walk, it is easy to fall back into Satan’s pits. He will continue to tempt us and hint at our flaws. Satan wants us to believe that we are not good enough for God’s kingdom. Whatever it may be, Satan will say, “see, you did it again. You fell into sin. You’re not holy, you’re not a child of God. God’s children are better than you.”

It is very subtle, yet the more we walk with God, the harder Satan will try to deceive us. What makes it so hard and believable is the fact that Satan is telling the truth. We can’t reject such thoughts. We are sinful. We did fall again into the same sins we want to get out of. We fail God again and again. Satan dangles these mistakes over our heads and makes us stare into our flaws. 

Our solution is not to reject what we did wrong. It is also not to succumb to self-pity because of our apparent failures. Our solution is to turn to God and return to the basics of who He is and what love He has and continues to love us with. Paul reassures the Thessalonians that the one who keeps us holy and blameless to the end is not ourselves. It is the God of peace himself who will sanctify us completely. His sanctification will not fail, and our whole spirit, soul, and body will be kept blameless.

Even though our faith seems to be stagnant and our love for Christ is so dim, He is faithful. He will surely hold us to the end because, in the end, it is not our works that justified us; it was Christ’s blood alone. Our sins and mistakes are washed clean by Christ, and we have been made righteous and blameless in the blood of Christ. This is freeing news. It will unclasp us from the bondage of our guilt. Do not look to self; look to Christ. 

The Christian walk is not one of keeping the law to obtain righteousness. The Christian walk is humbly knowing that Christ has already obtained our righteousness. It is about walking freely in the love of Christ and learning to love Him because He loved us. Know this, that even though our love may fail, His love never fails, and He will pull us back again. We are safe in God’s hands because He is faithful.

The world will say that Christianity is binding. However, it is the complete opposite. Blessed are you if you are in Christ because you are freer than ever. You are holy and justified and able to step in God’s sanctification as He works to renew us completely, keeping us blameless until our perfection when our Lord comes back. 

Lord, thank You for Your love You showed cavalry. Thank You that in You, we who are sinners, are forgiven. Thank You that we don’t need to live up to a standard. Yet, because You first loved us, help us love You and continue to learn of Your love and Your ways. Thank You, God. May Your Spirit continue to work in us to sanctify us and keep us until our perfection when You return. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Sharing the gospel is not about eloquent convincing or flattery language. Sharing the gospel is not a show that good Christians put on to seek glory from others and fame amongst men. Sharing the gospel at its core is this one thing; obedience to God. 

We are not called to share the gospel out of guilt. We often recognise that Christians must share the gospel, so, seeing ourselves who fail to share the gospel, we share the gospel out of guilt. This is wrong. The gospel is not selfish. The gospel is not for satisfying guilt. The gospel is God’s loving command for us to partake in His wondrous work. We should spread to gospel out of obedience to God. It is not to please man but to please God. In the end, sharing the gospel is not solely for the person who we are evangelising. In the end, it is obedience to our Master. 

How does God call us to obey Him? Paul witnesses, “we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8). There are times when God gives us opportunities to speak the gospel aloud to another person. Other times, we are called to be steadfast in love, to give our own selves to others. How have we sacrificed ourselves to show someone else Christ’s love?

God’s call to evangelism shapes in us a loving heart. As Christ first loved us, now God longs to teach us to love others. He longs to teach us what it means to lay down our lives, deny ourselves, and give our whole life for the sake that others may know Christ. 

For the sake of the gospel, Paul “worked night and day, that [he] might not be a burden to any of [the Thessalonians]”. Paul gave all his energy and effort for the sake of the gospel. His heart was set to love wholeheartedly, to give up his time and sweat, so that the Thessalonians could know the gospel. The love of Christ drove him to be gentle and ready to give his whole life to others that they may know the gospel. What has Christ’s love driven us to do?

Lord, thank You for Your love on the cross and the example of Paul, Your servant. I want to obey You and be a minister of Your gospel. I surrender my whole heart to You. I want my whole life, time, and effort to be used up for the sake of Your gospel. Please help me, and shape a gentleness and love for others as You loved me. Keep me and hold me because, without You, I am unfaithful. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Bible Reading: Psalm 73

“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand” (Psalm 73:22-23)

When we introspect ourselves, who are we, Christ’s followers, compared to those in the world? What makes us different from those around us who do not profess Christ? It is a stark question to ask because many are unrepentant around us. We interact with worldly people daily. What differentiates them and us? 

Asaph sings in Psalm 73 with profound truth about this matter. On two ends of the extreme, we easily consider worldly people either, no different to us, befriending them without thinking twice, or strangers who should not be associated with. If we only look at the similarities and differences on the outside, we will leave much room for Satan to deceive us. 

The reality is, in person and nature, we are the same as the world. Woe to the arrogant who see themselves more holy, sanctified, and dignified than those of the world. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. 

What does that mean? Romans 1:18 reveals how the wrath of God is awaiting all sinners who have suppressed the truth of God. Not only that, Romans 1:28 says, “God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”. 

These statements are not only true for worldly people; they are true of us, Christians. We are all sinners. We all suppressed God’s truth. We all deserve God’s wrath, and we all have gone astray, turned our own way, and God in His wrath has left us to do the evil we desired.  

Asaph said, “Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin” (Psalm 73:18). See the wrath of God and the extent of sin there is in you and me. There is nothing inherent in you or me that makes us better than the world. What then makes us different as Christians? 

Asaph realises his state when he says, “I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” Yet, the one thing that he had that separated him from the world was God himself. What makes us different from the world? It is only God’s grace that enables us to be loved by God and have a relationship with Him. 

What makes us different is this: God is continually with us. He holds our right hand. He guides us and gives us counsel. He will bring us into His eternal glory in the future. He is our strength and portion even when we fail and falter. He is our refuge. 

See that in all these things, God is the active one. We do not do anything. God actively chose to love us and guide our life. He chose to be faithful to us. He chose to prepare for us an eternal home. He chose to be our strength and portion. He decided to be a refuge for us. We did nothing. The one thing that differentiates us is God’s grace. 

If we can grasp this, our hearts should be humbled and brought low. Trust in God in your heart. Know that you are nothing, yet God decided to love you. Ask God for a sincere heart that can say, “whom have I in heaven but you? and there is nothing on earth that I desire but you” (Psalm 73:25). Only God can reveal these things about Himself to us. Ask that we may understand and our eyes are opened. 

Lord, please let me get to know You. Let me really see who You are and who I am. Create in me a humble heart. Shape me and mould me into what You want me to be. Show me Your glory, and do not pass me by. Let me grow in faith and truly get to know You. I also pray for my generation that You may reveal Yourself to those who are Your children. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.