Worthy Achievements

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. (2 Chronicles 14:2 NIV)

With the passing of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs in October 2011, the world is said to have lost one of the greatest and most well-known innovators and visionaries. Jobs is best remembered for changing the modern culture with the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. His achievements are reckoned by many as legendary because his creations changed the way people live and stay connected.

According to Wired.com, during his keynote address at Macworld 2007, Jobs announced the launched of three things—“A widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough Internet communications device.” All these three things are of course found in one—the iPhone. Since then, Apple's phone has been hailed by many as the coolest device that completely changed the expectations of how a smartphone should look, feel, and behave.

Like the achievements of Jobs, the Bible also mentioned the achievements of one who had done great things in times past. Asa, king of Judah, was reckoned by God as having done what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles during his reign. He also commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey God's laws and commands (2 Chronicles 14:2-4). All these things that Asa did, along with other events during his reign, his achievements and the cities he built, are recorded in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah (1 Kings 15:23).

Steve Jobs and King Asa are both remembered for doing the right things. Jobs’ achievements are recognized by the world, while King Asa’s achievements are recognized by both the world and God. What about our achievements? Are we achieving what we hope to be remembered for as doing something of worth? Are the things we are accomplishing today intended for achieving great things to receive the praise of men or even to gain favor from God?

Working hard and smart to achieve targeted goals is nothing wrong. However, our God does not need us to be like Steve Jobs or King Asa to receive His approval. He does not require us to prove our worth or accomplish great things to please Him, for we are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). We ought not therefore to pressure ourselves unnecessarily, for the yoke of our Lord is light and not burdensome (Matthew 11:29-30). Just as Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God (2 Chronicles 14:2), let us likewise simply do what is good and right.

Rather than regard our earthly achievements as worthy of praise, therefore, let us consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing our Lord. What is more, our achievements are nothing in comparison to the gain we receive in Christ, having no righteousness of our own but the righteousness from God through faith in Him (Philippians 3:8-9). If we therefore have anything to boast, let our boasts be in the Lord, for it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).

Dear Lord, thank You for accepting us just as we are, and not according to our achievements. You O God do not need us to prove our worth or accomplish great things before granting us Your approval, and we are grateful for that. Help us Lord to simply do what is good and right in Your eyes, rather than attempt to earn Your favor, for all our earthly achievements are nothing compared to the surpassing worth of knowing You. Set our hearts right O Lord that we may not seek praise from men, but do all things for the glory of Your name.

Price for Every Decision

But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; (Philippians 1:23 NAS)

Resigning from a job is a difficult decision to make, yet at times it is necessary in order to keep our health and our loved ones from worrying. On the one hand, such a decision can help free us from our distress, but on the other, it can increase our worries because we would need to find alternative income in the meantime to keep ourselves and our dependents alive.

Not too long ago, I was placed in a situation where I had to weigh the pros and cons to make a decision. After having been laid off from a job several months back, I was recently hired by another corporation which I had hoped to work for a long time, but sadly that was not to be the case. This new job left me with little time for myself and my family, and the need to spend more hours traveling to and from work than before greatly disrupted the routines of others at home. Without a choice, therefore, I am back to looking out for a new opening amid struggles managing the finances.

Many of us have had the experience of being caught between a rock and a hard place. During such times of dilemma, whatever the decision we make is likely not going to be the ideal we hope to see, and our choice may affect others as well.

The apostle Paul, like us, was caught in a similar predicament. He said, “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (Philippians 1:23-24). Of course, it was not as if Paul had a right to decide to live on or to depart, except maybe he was able to hasten his appearance before Caesar for execution. Yet, it was clear he knew the consequence of the decision.

Jesus our Lord was also faced with a similar situation just hours before He died on the cross. While at the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked of God, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). As the Son of God, Jesus had the choice not to go through the agony and suffering to die for us. Yet our Lord chose to go through the pain to do the will of His Father out of His love for us.

Like Paul and Jesus, we ought also to weigh our cost when making decisions, especially during times when we are hard-pressed from two or more directions. Regardless the course we choose to take, remember, our choice bears consequences and will affect others, just as Christ’s choice brought about life to many or death to all if He had chosen otherwise.

Let us therefore thank God for His mercy and choice, for without Christ’s death on the cross, we would have forever been lost. Let us not make selfish decisions, for such can disrupt the lives of our loved ones and others. Yes, it is difficult to make choices when caught between a rock and a hard place, and yes, God has granted us the freedom of choice. Nevertheless, we should be wise to make the right choices, and like our Lord, choose to make decisions according to the will of God.

Dear Lord, thank You for choosing to save us despite the pain and suffering You have to go through. We are forever grateful to You, and we desire to be like You in making decisions according to the will of God. Regardless the decision we make O Lord, help us go through the situations that are less than ideal without grumble or complain, and remember those whose lives are affected because of us, to love and cherish them. Direct us in our decision-making Lord, that we may not unwisely cause more hurt to self and others, but to weigh the cost and consequence for the sake of our loved ones and the people around us.

Encourage the Discouraged

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 NAS)

I have written devotionals for several years, and I sometimes wonder whether the effort I put in is benefiting anyone or if anyone is reading them at all. Although I can see the number of people who have subscribed to my blog, I seldom receive any comment, so once in a while I feel discouraged. No doubt, my Christian blog is not among the well-known or popular, and it would be unfair for me to expect people to read my writings when there are so many better Christian blogs and sites out there. Yet, whenever I receive a comment on my blog, I would be encouraged once again.

Discouragement can come in many different ways. We may be discouraged because we have been looking for a job, but found none suitable, or we may have submitted a manuscript for publishing, but it was rejected. Whatever is the cause of our discouragement, it is understandable to feel disheartened if we have put our heart and soul to do our very best, and our effort is not appreciated or falls through.

The Bible teaches us we should encourage and build up one another day after day, so that none of us will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13). Whenever we serve the Lord, it is not unusual for the devil and his league to attempt to discourage us in whatever way they can. We may be praying for something or for someone, or making great effort to bring a loved one to the Lord, and yet nothing seems to change after many years. In such a circumstance, we may like King David ask God, "How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day?" (Psalm 13:1-2). Yet, at the end of it all, David said, "But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me" (Psalm 13:5-6).

King David received encouragement from God because he trusted in God’s lovingkindness. He rejoiced and sang to the LORD because he remembered God had always been good to him. Can we like David do the same? Undoubtedly, all of us deserve a pat on the back once in a while, but have we ever given thought to being that someone who encourages the discouraged? Are we able to give praise or a positive comment from our heart to them, at least for the effort they put in?

Even if we are all alone without anyone to encourage us for our service in the Lord, there is no need for us to be disheartened. Our God is not unjust to forget our work and the love we have shown toward His name (Hebrews 6:10). Whether we are ministering to the saints or the sinners, God sees our hearts and will reward us according to our deeds (Jeremiah 17:10).

Give thanks and praise the Lord, therefore, and do not be discouraged even if our effort does not seem to bear fruit. Unless we sow, we cannot reap, and harvest takes time. We need to continue to do what we know is right and according to the will of God. Never ever be discouraged to the point of turning back to our old ways, just because we sometimes fail to achieve our intended goals. Even if we have made a mistake, God can turn our mistake around to serve His purpose. He is able to make all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Dear Lord, thank You for always looking after us. We know we make mistakes at times, yet You have make all things right, according to Your purpose. You O Lord have dealt bountifully with us, and we will not be discouraged. Help us Lord be the one to encourage others, constantly looking out for those who needs encouraging. Do not allow us to be discouraged to the point of falling back to our old ways Lord, but remind us always of Your lovingkindness to put our complete trust in You.

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Job Satisfaction and Teamwork

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. (Ecclesiastes 5:18 NAS)

One of the most well-known theories on motivation relating to productivity in the work environment is the ‘Hawthorne Studies’ by Harvard Business School professor Elton Mayo, founder of the human relations movement. In these studies, Mayo, together with two of his researchers, conducted a series of experiments over several years (from 1927 to 1932), and found that employees’ work performance is dependent on both social relations and job scope.

Mayo began his experiments by first examining the physical and environmental influences of the workplace, such as lightings, illumination, and humidity, before looking into other aspects, such as duration of breaks, group pressure, working hours, and leadership. Results were measured by counting the number of finished relays each worker dropped down a chute, and throughout the experiments, a supervisor was assigned to observe and discuss with the workers on changes required.

During the five years of study and research, different variables were introduced from time to time, and Mayo measured how these changes impacted the group's and individuals' productivity. His conclusion was work satisfaction and teamwork contributes a high cohesion in producing positive results when workers and supervisors develop a sense of participation working together.

Many centuries before the ‘Hawthorne Studies’ observations made by Elton Mayo, the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote about the importance of job satisfaction and team spirit. He said he had observed what is good and fitting—to eat, drink and enjoy oneself in one's labor which he toils—for this is his reward (Ecclesiastes 5:18). He also said, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

Perhaps, to some of us, the thought of eating, drinking, and enjoying the fruit of our labor seem unfitting and wrong. Yet the Bible makes it very clear that to acquire wisdom is to love oneself or one’s own soul (Proverbs 19:8), and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, in which self-love is assumed and implicit (Matthew 22:39). Deriving satisfaction out of work is therefore not wrong, and as workers, we deserve our wages and reward (1 Timothy 5:18; Ecclesiastes 5:18).

Nevertheless, job satisfaction must never be procured solely for our own personal interests at the expense of others (Philippians 2:3-4). We should instead work as a team to achieve the common goal, just as the body of Christ is one with many members, and all the members function together as one body (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12).

If we are supervisors, managers or employers, therefore, let us not coerce those who work for us or under us, for the Bible says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing" (1 Timothy 5:18). Instead, we should give attention to our subordinates to listen to their feedback and develop a favorable environment for cooperation and participation working together. If necessary, experiment to find out what are the best ways to help them derive job satisfaction, yet without compromising corporate objectives, that in so doing, both the corporation and the workers may yield better returns.

Thank You dear Lord for rewarding us with guilt-free satisfaction derived from the fruit of our labor. Forgive us Lord for the times we fail to consider the interests of others. Help us to be good team players Lord, always looking out for ways to improve cooperation and participation working together. Direct us and move our hearts Lord that we may not at any time coerce to motivate, but show care and encouragement to guide one another towards achieving the common goal.

Appointed for Wrath

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV)

When I received the letter of appointment to a position in a corporation recently, I was overjoyed and ready to start a whole new chapter in my life. Things did not go in the way as I have hoped however as my reporting manager was expecting me to run before I could walk, and choking me with solid food before I could get use to soft food.

On day one when I arrived for work, I was immediately led to a meeting room for briefing by the human resource and IT department on corporate policies and security. In the afternoon, I was debriefed by my reporting manager what was expected of me, before I was granted a little time to set up my work tools—laptop, network connection, and user accounts to different systems.

On day two, my entire morning was taken up by the reporting manager to explain the scope of work, the immensity of what I should expect upcoming, and the need for me to catch up to speed soonest possible.

“And by the way,” said the manager at the end of her session with me. “I am conducting a training this evening for the advanced users, and I want you to come along.”

“Okay,” I answered reluctantly, for in my thoughts I was wondering how I would be able to cope with advanced learning before I was given the chance to start learning the basics.

The human resource had promised me earlier that the first five days at work would be a breeze, as my priority would be to focus on learning the basics first. Unfortunately that was not the case, and amid the attempt to familiarize myself with the bare elementary concepts through self-taught eLearning in the afternoon, the training in the evening left me with more questions than answers.

Like me, some of us are probably familiar with the demands in the corporate world. It is not unusual for an employee to be expected to perform immediately upon acceptance of appointment. Such an expectation, thankfully, is not the same in the spiritual realm. The Bible puts it clearly that God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so we may live together with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Unlike our earthly bosses, our God understands that growth and progress take time. As a father is to his son, our heavenly Father does not exasperate us, but nurtures us in training and instruction (Ephesians 6:4). If we are new or young in the faith, we need not fear or worry about falling. Like newborn babies, we ought instead to crave for pure spiritual milk so we may grow up in our salvation (1 Peter 2:2).

God knows what is good for us and will not give us solid food when we are not ready (1 Corinthians 3:2). We must, however, eventually grow up in spiritual maturity, just as a baby grows up to consume solid food. Sadly, however, some of us by this time ought to be teachers, but we fail to rise up to the appointment (Hebrews 5:12-13).

Rather than remain in infancy to constantly need the elementary truths of God’s word, therefore, let us pave our ways to grow and progress steadily, for anyone who lives on milk is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Whether we are new by appointment, say to a ministry, or new in the faith, let us familiarize the basics quickly, yet without rush, that we may not need to start over. Grow up and begin taking solid food so we can distinguish the good from evil through the constant study and use of God’s word (Hebrews 5:14; 6:1).

Dear Lord, help us live above worldly expectations to regain our grounds in handling things according to our ability. Teach and instruct us as we look deep into Your word that we may gradually grow out of immaturity, and be trained to distinguish good from evil. Lay us on a firm foundation Lord, so we may not again and again fall prey to our sinful nature, but rise up to the appointment when the time arrives for us to lead.

Astonishing Deeds

But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? (Hebrews 2:6 NAS)

According to news at MSNBC.com, a former Marine in 2009 made five death-defying forays into a killing zone in Afgahnistan's Ganjgal Valley to save three dozen American and Afghan troops. During the six hours of ferocious fighting after an ambush by insurgents on September 8, 2009, Dakota Meyer saved 13 Marines and Army soldiers, and 23 Afghan soldiers, killed at least eight insurgents and carried from the battle zone the bodies of four fallen comrades—despite being wounded himself.

Meyer and the other Americans had gone to the valley to train Afghan military members. They wanted to talk to these village elders, and try to convince them to support the government".

"The village was known to be bad. We went in there; they left me back at the trucks," Meyer said of his four comrades.

Suddenly, the lights in the village went dark, and gunfire erupted. About 50 Taliban insurgents perched on mountainsides and taking cover in the village ambushed the patrol.

"There was so much gunfire it sounded like static going over you," he said. "I didn't think I was going to die, I knew I was. I was just going to keep fighting until they got me. I wasn't going to sit there and lay down and let them win. The only thing on my mind was how to get those guys out."

In September 2011, Dakota Meyer was bestowed the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama at the White House.

We often read and hear astonishing stories of people who willingly sacrificed and risked their lives to save others. Yet, there is another story far greater and more amazing than all these, recorded in the Bible.

The psalmist wrote, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). The heavens tell of the glory of God, and the skies declare His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).

Men may have been made a little lower than God, yet God has crowned men with glory and majesty, and appointed them over the works of His hands (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:6-7). Our Lord although He existed in the form of God, yet He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7).

Is it not astonishing that despite our imperfection, God willingly sent His Son to die for us that we may be saved? Who are we to deserve such loving care?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

–John Newton

Let us be grateful therefore and thank God for His salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Thank You, dear Lord, for willingly coming down to earth to die on the cross in order to save us. We are amazed and astonished O Lord that You should save a wretch such as us. Who are we O God that You show us so much love? We glorify and honor You O Lord our God, because You deserve all praise and worship.

Staying Employed

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NAS)

We know what the Bible says about “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). But what if we are the ones seeking for work, and there is none to be found?

Not too long ago, when I was laid off by my employer because of corporate restructuring and cutback on operating expenses, the first thing that came to my mind was a verse from the Bible.

"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34b)

Unfortunately, that was not how I was feeling inside me then. Although I was at peace and unafraid of what lies ahead, assured that the Lord has better plans for me, I was nevertheless troubled at heart. In some ways, the Lord had indicated beforehand it was time for me to move on, but I was unsure, so in my stubbornness I had chosen to remain status quo and held on.

In today's economic situation, staying employed can no longer be guaranteed even if we work hard and smart. Yet, we can be assured our God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). God has proven Himself faithful time and again, and He has demonstrated to me once more His grace is sufficient for me. After several months of waiting, praying, searching, and going for interviews, I soon received news of good tidings that a new job is awaiting me to come onboard.

Perhaps, like me, some of us are currently going through a time of waiting. The road ahead may appear uncertain, much tougher than before and evermore challenging, but we need not worry or be afraid. No matter how difficult the situations are going to be in the future, we can be assured where God places us, we will be fruitful and will prosper (Deuteronomy 5:33).

Let us therefore be at peace, even if we are faced with unemployment. Forgive the ones who have let us go for whatever the reason. Do not hold on to what is past or no longer in the will of God. Understand that there is a time for everything, and things change with the seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Daniel 2:21). No single situation we face or will face is not in the plans of God for our welfare to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Trust in God always, for He is faithful. He will never forget us in our times of need if we walk in all the ways the Lord our God has led us.

Dear Lord, remove our bitterness and unhappiness if we should be laid off or made unemployed. Forgive them who have let us go that we may experience true freedom, having been set free to a new adventure awaiting us. Grant us Your peace O Lord that we may be in perfect calm, assured of Your plans for our good to give us a future and a hope. Help us in our finances Lord and provide us with the sustenance necessary to maintain ourselves and our dependents while we wait and pray earnestly for a new door to open. Give us the strength to go through the tough times and challenges without fear or worry O Lord that in Your will we shall be fruitful and prosper in all we do.

Embarrassed but Not Defeated

and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. (Ezra 9:6 NAS)

It was the last Friday before the winter break, and every student was getting riled up. The teachers were not making much effort to get the students to pay attention, so Sue opened her laptop and started surfing the Internet. After a while, Sue came upon a social network group dedicated to a ‘super hot’ male teacher at her school.

“Hey, did you see the Facebook group called ‘I have a crush on Mr. Wilson’?” Sue asked her classmate. “I just joined it!”

Her classmate began laughing hysterically, so Sue turned around and realized Mr. Wilson was standing over her shoulder. Embarrassed, Sue thought to herself, at least he has the holidays to forget the fact I have a crush on him.

The story of Sue (not her real name) is adapted from a true account shared by a teenage girl at Seventeen.com. Like Sue, many of us probably have experienced embarrassing moments in our lives. We may laugh or feel shy over such experiences, but we seldom can forget them because embarrassment can be shameful and sometimes painful, especially if we are caught doing what we should not.

Staying aboveboard and blameless at all times is never easy. Even as Christians, we may at times be caught doing the things that put our Lord’s name in vain. What is important however is—are we willing to come clean before God when we fail, even if our sin is not found out?

King David tried to hide his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah, but God confronted him through the prophet, Nathan (2 Samuel 11-12). David then said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). If we have done something wrong, do we wait till we are confronted before we repent?

When the people of Israel with the priests and Levites failed to separate themselves from the abominations of the people of the lands, Ezra fell on his knees and stretched out his hands to the LORD. Ezra said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens” (Ezra 9:1, 5-6). Like Ezra, do we have the heart to feel ashamed for our sins, and the sins of our fellow men or loved ones?

The apostle Peter denied the Lord three times when he was recognized by a few people as being of Christ (Luke 22:55-62). Are we at times embarrassed or ashamed to be known as Christians? Peter was in remorse immediately after he realized his mistake. Are we remorseful for our wrongdoings or are we repentant only because we have been found out?

What if our misdeeds are discovered by many people or caught on a video and posted on the Internet? What would we do if that happens? Would we try to justify ourselves or simply resign ourselves to shame? Peter repented and was restored by the Lord when he confessed his love for Jesus (John 21:15-17). What about us?

Jesus said, “whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Let us not be ashamed of the Lord or the gospel, for in Him and in His word is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Let us instead be always prepared for the purpose of God that we may not suffer needless shame or embarrassment (2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Corinthians 9:3-4).

Dear Lord, forgive us for the times when we dishonor You by our wrongdoings. Help us turn back to You immediately Lord once we know we have sinned, rather than wait to be confronted before repenting. Restore us Lord and remove our guilt as we confess our sins and repent. Do not let us resign to our own shame O Lord, but lift us up and renew us that we will quickly get over our old sinful ways and move on in closer walk with You.

The Old Testament Church

But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. (1 Corinthians 14:40 NAS)

We know the church is a gathering of God's people, not a physical building. Yet we cannot deny the existence of certain administrative structure established in most churches today, such as the pulpit, the preaching, the worship, the Bible study, and the cell group meetings. How do all these practices come about in the church?

The answer is in the Book of Nehemiah (NAS).

Nehemiah 8:4-6
And Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose ... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:9
Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah 8:13-14
Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. And they found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses ...

Nehemiah 8:18
And he read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated ... according to the ordinance.

The administrative structure of the church and the practice of orderliness are not something new or established in recent centuries during the Church Age. They were already in practice since the days of old. As the author of Ecclesiastes say, there is nothing new under the sun, for that which has been is still continually being done (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The important thing is—all things, whether spiritual gifts or church practices, must be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Our God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33). We ought therefore to maintain orderliness at all times in the church and in the gatherings of fellow believers.

Dear Lord, You are the everlasting God, and in You there is no variation or shifting shadow. You do not change Your mind, and will not fail to fulfill Your promises. We know every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, and come down from the Father of lights. Help us therefore not attempt to change that which is good, but to always do all things properly and in an orderly manner. Quicken our hearts O Lord that we may not mourn or weep on the Lord’s Day, but to lift up holy hands in worship and celebration, affirming the teachings of Your word with Amen.

Eternal Commitment

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:5 NAS)

According to EveryDayInterviewTips.com, one of the most common questions asked by employers when considering hiring a staff is “How long do you plan on staying with us?” This question is reasonable because when a corporation decides to hire a person, it has to make a financial commitment. Besides paying a salary, if an employee leaves, the employer needs to find someone else to replace the job as well, and that costs time, money, and efficiency.

An advice given on what not to say in answer to the question is “I plan on staying until I retire.” The reason is because unless we are in our 60s, this statement cannot be true. While we need to sound like we are planning on committing to the role, we can never know what the future holds. A more appropriate answer would therefore be something like, “I plan to stay until there is nothing left for me to contribute to the company’s future success.”

Commitment to the job is expected of employees, but much is left to be said of the same expectation from employers. During times of bad economy or slow economic growth, employers seldom remember the commitment they made to their employees and are often quick to lay off their staff, sometimes even without appropriate compensation.

Thankfully, our God is not like an employer that He should fail to keep His end of the bargain. He is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent (Numbers 23:19). Has He said and will He not do it? Has He spoken and will He not make it good?

Unlike the commitment made between employers and employees, we can be sure our commitment to God our Savior is never in vain. He will never abandon or forsake us in times of our trouble or need, for the LORD our God is a compassionate God; He will not fail us or forget His promises (Deuteronomy 4:31).

Let us therefore commit our ways to the Lord and put our complete trust in Him that our works and our plans will be established (Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 16:3). Hold fast to the word of life that in the day of Christ we will have reason to glory because we did not run nor toil in vain (Philippians 2:16).

Today, if our Lord is to ask us how long do we plan to stay with Him, what will our answer be? Will we say until we retire, until there is nothing left for us to contribute to His kingdom, or as long as we shall live, all the days of our lives through eternity? What if He calls us to a particular ministry? Will we say we will try it out for a year first before we decide, or will we willingly obey? May it be found in our hearts to desire to serve the Lord and to be with Him forever and ever. Amen.

Dear Lord, our hearts yearn to be with You forever and ever. We desire Lord to commit our whole being and all aspects of our lives to You. Be our King and our Lord to reign supreme in our lives, for we do not want to be half-hearted in serving You ever again. You O Lord are a compassionate God, and You never fail to fulfill what You promise us. In You we will put our complete trust, for You know our needs and never leave us without help in times of our troubles. Thank You Lord for always being with us when we need You. We worship and praise You O God, because You alone are worthy of our absolute commitment.