Mary Magdalene is weeping and crying. The one, she loved, Jesus died on the cross. What’s more, even his body is now gone missing. So she weeps even more. Jesus was the first ever person, who understood and accepted her, and whom she committed to serve as her Lord. Now she can not follow him nor she can see him no more. There seems no hope to forward to. So she weeps, perhaps rightly so.
On the other hand, wasn’t Mary blinded by her love and for being deeply immersed in the sorrow, to see the true picture of what was happening in front of her at the time? When the body of Jesus was gone missing, wasn’t she so consumed by her sorrow, perhaps rightly so…, that she missed to realise actually that it is a moment of great glory.
I am sorry. You know who you are, whom I am saying this to. I want you to know that there are no words to comprehend how sorry I am.
I am sorry for what I did. I am sorry for what I did not do. I am sorry for who I am. I am sorry for not being the person I should have been. I am sorry for not being there for you when you needed.
Ephesians 2:6-7
…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
I ask myself today, am I living worthy of this grace, am I not boasting about my own faith, not manifesting his grace, his glory in me.. I pray that my eyes of my heart are enlightened so that I may know the hope in which he called us, what are the glorious inheritance, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us, just as apostle Paul prayed in the letter to Ephesians 1. And that in turn, this may turn into thanksgiving in my lips and sharing of his wonderful work in the cross, showing the “immeasurable riches of his grace”.
As I usually do, I’ve finished the passing year and started the new year with doing a quiet time, the words of God and prayer, thanking God for his providence in passing year 2009 and asked for his faithfulness in the coming year 2010.
During the quiet time, I’ve noticed the Romans 8:37, especially, during reading ‘The Ordinary Hero’ by Tim Chester.
“No, in all these we are more than conquerors through him, who loved us.”
Such an encouraging words. In Romans chapter 8, Paul writes of the assurance, we have in Christ. He writes, though there are difficult times, sufferings, and even the persecutions, none of those will be able to separate us from God. Because, Christ has loved us. Not loves us, but, loved us. How did he love us? Here, Paul is referring to the Cross.
Our Christian faith is rooted in the cross, where he poured out his life to save his people. Our faith shall not be like that we feel so blessed on one sunny afternoon and feel God loves us. Because, sooner or later, it’ll rain. Rather, we are to look upon and cling to the cross, all the time, when there are a hardship or sun shine down on us, and be reminded of what Christ has done for us and achieved on the cross. What’s more, the cross still stands to demonstrate his love for us, that he loves us. One ultimate act on the cross in the past, gives full assurance ,and demonstrates and reminds that he loves us to this very moment and forevermore.
Now, the year 2010 has finally begun. The year may will be filled with happiness and good memories. Or, the year may will be filled with pains and hardships. Only God knows. But one thing, I’m sure of is, no matter how the year 2010 turns out to be, I’m more than a conqueror for the cross of Christ and the cross will be my strength.
As some of you already know, I work for an Israeli bank and the bank kindly sent me to the Head Office in Tel Aviv for 4 days to meet the various teams in Head Office and build working relationship with them as well as getting some training, about three months ago. It was very interesting experience. It was a shame that I couldn’t go to Jerusalem, where is less than couple of hours away by car, though, since I couldn’t extend my trip in Israel any longer than that as someone special was waiting for me in London. So, I decided to leave Jerusalem for the later.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
in the evil we have done
and in the good we have not done,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry, and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
…………………
Tonight was the last night of the study on book of Romans and we had a review night of the one year study on Romans. I love the review night because I can get the big picture of how each section of the book that we studied over a year are connected to each other and work altogether (gotta love the neural net method!!).
I have to say that it’s not an easy book to study and at many times, I was so stressed and frustrated before, during and after the study, to understand it, and all the time, those times of stress and frustration have been worth the struggle. Paul’s writing is not the easiest writing to understand (and it’s not just me for even the apostle Peter also said so in his letter) and yet I have to say that I’ve been amazed at his logics and his use of the grammar to make his case and so on, because, behind these, the great teachings about God, us, his unchanging divine rescue plan, righteouness, reality of Christian living, and his sovereignty are embedded in. And seeing those at last, after the long agonizing struggle to see, made my days.
Now, the end of my second RML year is near and this time around, there are more regrets than satisfaction. Many times, I lacked in contribution during the group discussion, i.e. lacking preparation and concerntration. Many times, I felt that i’m not building the others with the truth and not supporting the two great leaders well. I do pray that I may not just dwell in such thought but put it into action to correct and do better job to follow God’s command.
Now, I will likely serve as a leader next term, Lord willing, and I know I need to improve on so many and yet firstly I need to learn to put my trust in him completely that he will prepare me and use me. I’m, after of all, just an instrument of God. By the way, it’s a bit of shame that I can’t do the overview RML with current group members. It’s been such a joy to study the words of God together and be encouraged and I know there are more rooms for knowing and serving each other more, so not being able to study with them makes me truly sad.
Anyhow, I’ve got about three months till the next term begins and there are so many things I want to do to be ready and it’s gonna be busy summer break!
