reading for: 9 March

Luke 13:31-35

What Time Is It?

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Luke 9:51-19:27 is widely known as Luke’s Tavel Narrative because it follows Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. It was a long road trip and one that was taken on by foot. The road trip begins in Luke 9:51 - “when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” That was the first mention of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem.

The second time it was mentioned is in Luke 13:22 - “he went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.” And the third mention of the journey happens in Luke 17:11 - ‘”on the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.”  

Hence, we must read Luke 13:31-35 in light of Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem. By this point of the journey, Jesus has gained quite a repute and Herod was seeking to kill him (Luke 13:31). However, Jesus was determined to finish the course even if it means certain death (13:32-33). There is no turning back for him. He must go to Jerusalem and see it through to the end. Not even Herod could interfere with God’s plan.

Why is Jerusalem so important to Jesus? Why must he go there? Jerusalem is where the temple of God and the throne of David is. It is the religious and political center of Israel. It represented both the presence and the reign of God. Unfortunately, the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants have rejected God and the ones he sent (13:34). Thus, Jesus laments over the plight of Israel. Their Messiah has come but they did not recogize him. Nevertheless, Jesus promises that he will come again and he will be recognized (13:35).

• REFLECT

  Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem was a long journey. And his journey began with a keen sense of time. Luke tells us that “when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” In other words, Jesus was keeping time with God. When it was time to go, he went. And Luke intentionally mentioned it twice more to tell us that in the midst of all that Jesus was doing, he never lost sight of Jerusalem. The irony of course was Jerusalem or rather, the people of God, has completely lost sight of Him.

  We are into the second week of the Lent season - a 40 day journey towards the Cross. Lent is a time marked by prayer, repentance, fasting and reflection. It is an opportunity for us to put aside the things that have laid hold of us that we may lay hold of God.  

  What are some things that have gotten a hold of your life? Have you lost sight of God? Are your minds set on earthly or heavenly things? Are you keeping time with God? Do you know what time is it? In this Lent, may you and I set our face towards heaven and lay hold of God. May we not lose sight of what God is doing and be mindful of the time he has set for us.

reading for: 10 March

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Are We There Yet?

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Before we read today’s passage, it is helpful to remember Abram’s journey. Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and his family eventually settled in Haran in the land of Canaan (Genesis 11:31). When the LORD first appeared to Abram, he was a 75 years old man living with a wife and a nephew, and he had owned many possessions and servants (12:4-5).

However, the LORD gave Abram specific instructions to leave his country, his kindred and his father’s house to go to an unknown land (12:1). God promises to make of Abram a great nation, and to bless him and make his name great that he may be a blessing (12:2). Moreover, God will bless those who bless him, and curse those who dishonor him, and promises that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him (12:3).

Thus, Abram has been on a long journey towards the land that God has promised. And the promise of God was all Abram had to go on the journey. Abram had no idea where he is going, and how will he become a great nation and a blessing to all the families of the earth. Genesis 15 is where Abram finds out more about how God intends to fulfil his promise and where his inner fears are revealed before the LORD.

After Abram refused the offer of the King of Sodom to keep the spoils of the war because he trusted in the LORD’s provision (14:21-24), the LORD promises Abram that his reward shall be very great (15:1). However, Abram shares his concerns that he is childless and a member of his household, instead of a son, will be his heir (15:2-3). How then will God’s promise be fulfilled? In response, God assures Abram that he will have a son and not only will he have a heir, he will have descendants as numerous as the stars, and Abram believed (15:4-6).

God then reminds Abram that he is the LORD who have led him thus far and the one who will give him a land to possess (15:7). Abram then raises his second concern - how will he know that his descendants will possess the land that the LORD had promised (15:8)? In response, God instructed Abram to gather some animals and to cut them in half, and he made a covenant with Abram that his descendants shall possess the land (15:9-11, 17-20). In case we miss the imagery and the intensity - By cutting the animals in half and making a covenant with Abram, the LORD was graphically showing Abram that he will be cut in half like the dead animals if he does not keep his promise to Abram. And that is definitely not a promise anyone wants to break.

• REFLECT

  We must remember that Abram was 75 years old and his life was pretty luxurious. Abraham is known as the father of faith, not only because he believed in God, but that he trusted him. And we all know that Abraham never lived to see the land and it wasn’t until hundreds of years later that his descendents finally entered the promised land.

  Faith is more than just believing in God. Faith is trusting in God even if our circumstances and logic tells us otherwise. It is to hold fast to the LORD even when we don’t understand. In his journey towards the promised land, Abraham must have often wondered when will he get there. Nonetheless, he trusted God and his timing. Thus, the LORD regarded Abraham as righteous because of his faith. What about you? Do you trust him? In whom and in what do you place your confidence? Is it in the LORD or somewhere else?

reading for: 11 March

Philippians 3:17-4:1

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In his letter to the church in Philippi, one of Paul’s chief concern is to encourage the Philippians to live a life that is worthy of the Gospel (1:27). Hence, he exhorts the church to imitate Christ (2:5-8) and presents himself (1:12-18; 4:9), Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30) as examples to follow (3:17).

Over the years of his ministry, Paul have seen many walk away from God and it has casued him much pain (3:18). And the reason why these people have fallen away is because their minds were set on earthly things (3:19). Hence, Paul wanted the Philippians to make progress in their faith (1:25; 3:15) and to “press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (3:14)”.

In other words, Paul’s hope for the church was that they would grow in their walk with Christ and set their minds on heavenly things. Paul then reminds the Philippians that their citizenship is in heaven, and that they are waiting for their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will one day transform their current body into a glorious body (3:20-21), and urges them to stand firm in the Lord in light of that day (4:1).

• REFLECT

  Paul’s exhortation to the church in Philippi two thousand years ago is the same call to us today. Would you take the words of an overweight gym instructor who makes claim about health and fitness all while eating fried and oily food every meal seriously? In the same way, would anyone take the words of a Christian seriously if his/her life look nothing like Christ?

   

  As Christians, the way we live must reflect the Christ we claim to follow. For those of us who have been baptized, and who have confessed Christ and renounced Satan, Paul’s charge to us is to live in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel. And Paul is saying that it is completely doable. Not only do we have the example of Christ, we have the examples of Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus and many who have gone before us and who have done it.

   

  When Jesus called us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, he also remarked that a salt that has lost its taste is no longer good for anything and a light that is hidden is useless because it no longer gives light (Matthew 5:13-16).

   

  As we read this passage today, let us pause to examine our lives. Is our current manner of life worthy of the Gospel? Are our minds set on earthly things? Have we lost our saltiness? How are we shining our light? If we have fallen short, let us repent and ask the Lord to help us to wake up strong, not go to bed wrong and pause each day to pray.

   

  Our bodies may be earthbound but our lives can be heavenward while we await a Savior.

reading for: 12 March

Psalm 27

How Long Is The Wait?

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Psalm 27 is a well loved Psalm of David and we catch a glimpse of the man after God’s own heart in v4:

“One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.”

The one thing that David sought after all the days of his life was the presence of God. It is a beautiful prayer that captures the posture of a man after God’s heart. However, there is certainly much more to Psalm 27. At the heart of it, Psalm 27 is a Psalm about trust. David set his heart to pursue the LORD all the days of his life because the LORD is his light, his salvation and his stronghold (v1).

Even when all the odds are stacked against him, David chooses to puts his trust in the LORD (v2-3). He remained steadfast in the LORD because he knows that the safest place to be is where God is (v5). Hence, he is able to sing and make music to the LORD in the midst of adversity (v6). And he is confident that the LORD will hear his cry and come to his rescue, and he will not be forsaken by Him (v7-10).

Furthermore, David desired to be tutored in the ways of God and to walk the path that will keep him safe from his enemies (v11-12). Despite the darkness, David trusted in the goodness of the LORD and calls upon the people to be strong and of good courage while waiting for the LORD to deliver them (v13-14).

• REFLECT

  David was by no means a perfect man. From his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy to his glorious years as a king, David had experienced great success and made grave mistakes. However, throught it all, the one thing that never changed was David’s heart before God. Above all else, David’s one pursuit in life was to behold the face of God and to dwell in his presence all the days of his life.

  Is there any wonder why David is the only man in the bible whom God calls – “a man after my own heart”? David was able to sing in the face of death and had such confidence in God because he knew His heart. Thus, even when things don’t make sense, David was able to hold fast to the LORD. He was able to wait because he trusted in God’s timing. In the presence of God, David have found perpetual safety. And he has learned that the ways of God are the straightest path to walk.

  How long do we have to wait before help arrive? Only God knows. However, we can be strong and take heart while we wait. We can trust God and his timing. He knows what he is doing. All we have to do is keep our eyes on him, stay in his presence and walk as he leads.

  In this Lent season, let us boldly pray the prayer of David. Let us seek the face of God and make the pursuit of God our life’s pursuit. Let the presence of God be the one thing that we will seek all the days of our lives. May we be known as the man and woman after God’s very own heart. May we be known as the people who knows God’s heart, bears his presence and carries his Spirit wherever we go.

  Listen to Show Me Your Face by Andrew Yeo and One Thing by Hillsong Worship.