Saturday, November 29, 2014

Wander Fruitfully


Wander fruitfully in this world so that one can go to Heaven directly and if not, to the Purgatory at least rather than to Hell

In Deuteronomy 1 – 6, Moses repeated the commands and teachings of God to HIS people, to prepare them entering the Promised Land. After many centuries, people live in different places of the Earth, dividing in term of country. Physically and geographically, we may be settled down. However, we still wander in this world and are waiting to enter the Promised Land, which is also named as Heaven. Have we learned from the Children of Israel to get ourselves prepared well for the entry?

Some good Christians may go into Heaven directly after death. More common circumstance is landing to the Purgatory because the deceased carried some sins that must be cleansed first. The time in Purgatory varies and the Holy Souls couldn’t do anything to help themselves. So, it’s better for everyone to commit the least number of sins and do atonement as much as one can while we are wandering in this world.

God is the same living one, forever and ever. Hence, it’s no surprise to realize that HIS principles to children of Israel are also valid to us and many generations afterwards. The LORD is almighty and HE demands people following HIM wholly. This following requires knowing and taking action with one’s free will. Everybody can choose to be blessed and delivered by God or to become HIS enemy and keep ignoring HIM.

Our lifetime is the training period and we are in the wandering mode to learn God’s statues and judgments, to keep and do them. Precision is a must as we shouldn’t do more or less than God commanded. We also have the responsibility to teach our children about God, to prevent corruption happened generation after generation.

In case corruption happens, reconciliation with God is possible. Those who seek the LORD, they will find HIM but one must seek HIM with all his heart and all his soul. God will never forsake us. HE is just and will apply punishment according to one’s sin, for example, Moses was rejected for entering into the Promised Land in his lifetime.

God never hides the secret of how people can get well-prepared to the Promised Land. HE keeps giving instructions to HIS people on how to wander fruitfully. HE not only guides, but also protects HIS people, we have nothing to fear. Never forget God, but love HIM with all our heart, all our soul and all our strength. We will find ourselves easier to focus on observing HIS rules and resisting temptations by worshiping the LORD only, without any idols such as devils and any of HIS creations.  

Let’s pray to God:

O, merciful God, Your salvation never expires providing that we seek You with all our heart, soul and strength. Help us love like Christ and learn to wander in this world fruitfully by walking on Your path to the Promised Land. Amen.


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Learn from God's Justice


Be fair to God and to our neighbors correctly.

In Numbers 25 – 36, God promoted justice in HIS commands. Don’t insist on equality solely in every occasion. Be mindful that God’s mercy and love to people are incomparable.

Everybody is free to choose

God punished Israel’s harlotry in Moab because they chose to sin against HIM. HE sent plague that stopped only when atonement was made for the Congregation by killing the offenders. We can choose to be blessed or damned.

Everybody gets a share

God commanded that land should be divided for inheritance. Larger tribe would have larger inheritance; smaller tribe smaller inheritance. Distribution by size aimed at leaving out none of the tribe or family.

The sharing of God’s grace is for all. God’s Inheritance Laws further extended to daughters if their fathers got no son to inherit the land. Neither seizure by marriage nor by force was allowed among children of Israel.

Earn leadership on one’s own merits

Fairness is still applicable for things that can’t be shared, for example, leadership. God selected Joshua to be the next leader after Moses because his faithfulness to the LORD was a marked difference, entitling him to such great honor and responsibility.

Love God in return

There were various offerings to God at different times in a year. God owns everything. The articles involved are insignificant; it is the continuous memory, reverence and obedience to God that count.

Fairness for vow

God gave father and husband the power to confirm or void the vow made by his daughter or wife. They must do their duty faithfully. Also, everybody should offer no false vow to God.

Be at God’s side

God is full of goodness. Be cooperative with the LORD to avoid being HIS enemies and suffering from decline like Midianites. One’s possession won’t become plunder to be divided by others.

Play fair in God’s plan

The Congregation must go into wars to drive out the inhabitants of the land. God demands HIS people following HIM wholly. Some tribes settled first but they would be armed and fought the wars until all children of Israel have settled down with inheritance of land.

Exercise restricted mercy to accidental manslaughter

God commanded to have cities of refuge so that whoever killed a person accidentally might not die until he stood before the congregation. That person was liable to be killed by the avenger if he was outside the city of refuge.

Other justice

God demanded witness, which shouldn’t be just one. Also, there should be no ransom for the life of a murderer. No pollution to the land with blood as this is defilement.

God wants all people enjoy HIS blessings. Comply with HIS laws to be blameless and be blessed.

Let’s pray to God:

Our loving Father, Your justice is supreme, glory to You. Please help us understand the underlying love and mercy You granted us. Let us treat our neighbors righteously by spreading Your principles all over the world. Amen.


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fully Obey All the Way

Cooperate with God with full obedience every time, forever and ever.

In Numbers 20 – 24, God is consistent with HIS demands and judgments. HE gave HIS people clearly instructions to follow. Failure to obey with exactness, those people received punishment according to his bad deed or mistake, no exemption granted.

The LORD commanded Moses to speak to the rock for water but he was too carried away by anger and hit the rock twice instead. By violating precision, Moses failed in belief to God and hallowing HIM in the front of HIS people. God is just. HE forgives people but punishment is still justifiable. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land in his life. Let’s dispel our anger shortly lest it will lead us sinning against God.

God punished many kings for their refusal to let children of Israel pass through. Never fear your enemy if you are walking with God. Seek help from the LORD by praying for HIS deliverance. Cooperate with God when dealing with HIS people so that you won’t be counted as against HIM. Pride or being ignorant of God’s omnipotence invites one’s decline as nobody could resist HIS power and change HIS plan.

Obeying God thoroughly is a lifetime requirement. Unfortunately, children of Israel complained against God and Moses again and again. This definitely irritated God. HE sent the fiery serpents among the people, who finally confessed their sin, repented and asked Moses praying to God to relieve them.

Complaint against God is a wicked practice that tears people away from HIM, leaving the offenders unprotected like a helpless orphan exposing to all kinds of dangers. Avoidable damages become inevitable until people reconciled with God properly.

Balak sent for Balaam to curse Israel. His wish never came true because it was against God’s will. The LORD instructed Balaam to speak exactly what HE told him, neither more nor less. We should never go beyond God’s word.

Balaam needed God to open his eyes to see the angel of the LORD finally. We ought to pray to God for opening our eyes so that we won’t walk against HIM. Implore HIM for direction and follow the reply with full confidence and belief.

In Balaam’s case, God put word in his mouth to help him cope with Balak appropriately. Be contented and ready for God to use us as HIS tool in fulfilling HIS plan. Balaam blessed Israel bountifully. He didn’t come to please any man no matter how rich and earnest the requested party was.

Nobody can reverse God’s command based on his own will. God’s blessing is invaluable. It kept children of Israel away from their enemies and be unbeatable. Without God’s consent, changing the places to perform the cursing won’t work.

Let’s pray to God:

O LORD, glory to Your Omnipotence. Open our eyes, ears, mind and heart to notice and understand Your will so that we could ask for help correctly and be cooperative to realize Your plan first. Amen.



Saturday, October 18, 2014

Same for All


God’s commands are “one law for all”. Whoever violates HIS rules would be punished.
In Numbers 15 – 19, God gave more laws and emphasized “One law for all” over again. HE demands children of Israel and the strangers dwelling among them exact observance to HIS arrangements. Challenging Moses or Aaron was equivalent to rejecting God, and the rebels paid their price for their wickedness.

God’s rules are given to help people live their life uprightly. We must keep them strictly as a way to return our love to HIM. Nowadays, people have a lot of things to worry and tend to abandon precision easily. The reckless attitude affects our behaviors, contributing to our loose relationship with God.

Don’t let our self-will dominate and magnify. Place God as the chief in our heart; cultivate our love and patience to serve HIM with full correctness for every task HE entrusted us.

God knew that people are forgetful. HE instructed children of Israel to have tassels on garments to help them remember all HIS commandments and be holy for HIM. Today, we can print the laws in big poster or pocket-size card, save them in cell phones or tablets. Do whatever we can to remind ourselves God’s rules and act accordingly with exactness.

One law one custom for Israel and the strangers who dwelled with them, God requested HIS people to assimilate others on earth to follow HIS commandments. God’s love is open to all people. A competent God’s servant ought to assimilate others obeying the LORD rather than being assimilated to sin against HIM.

Same for all is not only about following all God’s rules, but also be contented in our given position, authority and duty. Don’t challenge God’s choice and behave like those who complained against Moses and Aaron for being more exalted in the assembly. This is a sign of rejecting God and the wicked people were severely punished.

Direct complaint was unacceptable, so did murmur against Moses and Aaron for the rebels’ deaths. The murmur only suggested that people didn’t understand and care the sinners’ offense to God. The LORD punished them with plague. Never make God angry by participating in evil plot directly or express support for the wicked people.

We should learn from Moses as he prayed to God for mercy without committing the same sin even he lived among the Congregation.

The budding of Aaron’s rod was God’s declaration to stop the complaints of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron. The duties and offerings in relation to priesthood, and then to Levites were stated.

The LORD requires us full submission to all HIS arrangements. HE will exalt the strict observers and punish those who exalt themselves or rebel against HIM.

Let’s pray to God:

Our heavenly Father, You are the most just adjudicator. Help us maximize our strength and deactivate our weakness, be contented in our roles and duties, obey Your laws strictly and live our every minute with love to You and to our neighbors. Amen.


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Never Test God


Have we tested God? Children of Israel did so and got punishments.

In Numbers 11 – 14, God was in wrath because children of Israel were unthankful and kept complaining. They didn’t believe in God but wanted their own way.

Facing many complaints, Moses had difficulty in bearing the burden. He must seek God’s support. He also interceded with God for HIS people.

After God burning the complaining guys, people wanted to eat flesh and HE provided quail. Nothing is impossible to the LORD because HE has full control over everything, including who could receive the Spirit and prophesied for HIM. No man can interfere with HIM.

God keeps a record for everyone and punishes people according to their own deeds. HE punished people with plague due to their craving for eating flesh.

Craving blinds people taking things for granted, thinking God as a magician that must provide if we ask; otherwise, we complain to God without reverence. We fail to appreciate HIS blessings to us and become greedier than ever.

Craving tears us away from God. We forget to thank and praise the LORD, but blame HIM and produce dirty tricks to satisfy our wicked appetite. Many people don’t ask for the right thing, don’t trust in God for the best alternative, and they disbelieve HIM.

Besides greed, jealousy is another man’s common failing. Aaron and Miriam complained to the LORD because they envied Moses. Miriam was punished with leprosy for seven days. Respect God’s faithful servant and never speak against HIM or challenge the given authority.

When God is with us, we should fear nothing. However, children of Israel forgot HIS omnipotence and acted upon their fear. They refused to enter Canaan after hearing the report of giants living there. They blamed God for sending them into the wild and wanted to return to Egypt. They didn’t recall God’s wondrous works and almost stoned Joshua and Caleb, who believed in HIM and suggested fear not.

God granted Israel pardon because Moses interceded again. The rebels received death penalty. The punishment for the rest was neither one could see the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb and they had to stay in the wild for 40 years.

Children of Israel launched an attack afterwards, without God’s command and so, the effort became futile. Without God, man is nothing.

Learn a lesson and do some self-examination. Are we like children of Israel? For example, being unthankful, envying others, disbelieving God for knowing and giving us the best, misusing HIS love to us. Have we forgotten HIS wondrous works and do not fear HIM? In short, we may not know the LORD well enough, or even refuse to know HIM so that we could do whatever we like.

Whoever tests God is sin against HIM and will be punished.

Let’s pray to God:

Our merciful Father, please help us cultivate our faith and be thankful to You. Give us the wisdom to ask for Your help aptly. Never test nor transgress You forever and ever. Amen.


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Seek God’s Guidance


God’s guidance is free and abundant. Seek and we will get it.

In Numbers 5 – 10, God gave a lot of commands to guide HIS people, to show them the correct path to take in one’s life. Any questions, ask the LORD and HE will answer.

God never reserves HIS good advice. HE told children of Israel how to avoid uncleanness. Handle defilement properly, the whole congregation might not be corrupted easily.

The LORD also told HIS people how to do confession and restitution, handle the jealousy of the husband to his wife, perform the law of Nazarite unerring, etc. HE also taught the priests to bless appropriately. God’s commands are to do good.

God never abandons us after leaving commands. Children of Israel asked the LORD how to keep the Passover if they were defiled by a human corpse and they got HIS answer. Don’t do things according to your own will but ask God to know and do HIS.

God demands a strict observance not just from children of Israel but also from the stranger and the native of the land as well. One ordinance for all, this is a clear message that there is only one living God to obey and worship.

God knows everything and HE is full of goodness. HIS commands help Israel to be in good order to journey and camp. HE also accompanied them in the form of cloud (day) and fire (night). We learn the correct principles and develop good habits in worshiping HIM effectively by following the LORD’s orders non-stop.

The LORD gave commands to train HIS people listening to the trumpets and acting with apposite response to remember HIM.

Nowadays, have we forgotten to consult God for everything we do? We often travel our life journey alone. We check all the information on the Internet, ask our acquaintances for advice, read books to get tips and so on, and thought our efforts are good enough. Many people never pray to God for advice and wait patiently for an answer. The over-independence is a result of exalting oneself, leading us to overlook God’s presence and HIS graces to us.

Self-reliance and pride often occupy one’s mind so intense that people fail to remember God, not to mention listening to HIM and discovering HIS subtle way in giving commands to them. They blame God for no help when they never study the Bible, nor do according to HIS word, nor ask and listen, nor have faith in HIM. 

God guides us through the Holy Spirit. Its arrival and staying behind to guard and guide us is a great blessing to the chosen people. We ought to pray for more faith in God and cleanse our heart and mind so that we could hear the little voice of our guardian angel.

Let’s pray to God:

Our loving Father, I thank You for Your incessant guidance. Please help us heed the advice of the Holy Spirit and plunge in the ocean of Your blessings without reserve. Amen.



Saturday, September 27, 2014

Dedicate your Work to God


Do all the duties with great love to please our big boss -- God.

In Numbers 1 – 4, God commanded Moses to carry out the first census of Israel and then the census of the Levites, separately. Duties assigned and division of labors took place. Everyone has his own part in God’s plan. The LORD is our big boss, the Highest.

Faithful to God, Moses numbered the children of Israel that were able to fight in war, and then the tribe of Levi that got special duties – serving in the tabernacle wherever they go.

Result of the first census confirmed God’s promises to Abraham and Jacob – multiply their descendants. Numbered by armies, the huge sum was an asset granted by God to help HIS people enter the Promised Land later.

God gave the tribe of Levi to Aaron and his sons as a gift to help them. Census done and specific duties assigned to each family, division of labor was adopted. Aaron and his sons focused on their priesthood; the Levites took care of the setup, running, and moving of the Tabernacle.

Including the Levites, people shouldn’t attend service not assigned by God to them lest they die. They could neither exchange duties nor refuse to do the assignments according to their own will. Be content with the given jobs even though they are small ones and contribute in the collective force. We ought to serve God with great love and fidelity.

God is a very considerate boss. HE never gives people duties more than they could handle. Individual assignments all well-done, the collective force will be able to keep God’s requirements and yield prosperity. The opposite is non-conformity and decline as any bad example is infectious and corrupts people easily. God gives HIS people the best, including the freedom to choose to comply with HIS laws or not.

Nowadays people have multi-roles and our life is very busy in fulfilling the requirements of different roles. Do we overlook the truth that the Creator (God) actually is our big boss? Have we served with great love for all our duties? Have we given a cold response or an absolute refusal when we are invited to serve the little ones for God’s sake?

Many people have no idea that God in fact is our big boss. Some people believe they are their own boss and can do whatever they like; whereas, many others like to boss around, to order anyone whom they could grasp at, to exercise their self-will only.

With failures to identify the true big boss, we will never think of finding out HIS will and act accordingly. Our toil could be in vain and we might be worse off due to the fruitless consumption.

Let’s pray to God:

O LORD, You are our big boss. Please help us know Your will and commands, and serve You in all the tasks, big or small, willing or unwilling, with full loyalty and great love. May Your glory be known forever and ever! Amen.