Skip to main content
WAITING IN HOPE
“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Most of us face a myriad of different pressures and life challenges. For some, it feels like they are living in a pressure cooker. How about you? How do you cope (or overcome) your life-pressure? Pressures that seem no end—strong, dominant, possessive spouse? Unending family feuds? Sickness? Bussiness bullies, etc... We can’t wait for all these to end as soon as possible. For quick solutions, people may consider to get lawyers to solve their marital problems and family feuds. Or whatever ways that can put all the tensions to the end...(Just beware that we always take God into consideration, before we decide or act!)
The anxiety may be too great! Our emotional and spiritual (and perhaps physicsal as well) muscles can’t endure the pressures! We can’t wait ... Some may call upon the Lord to hasten His coming to end all these evil and pressures of life! In His desperation in dealing with the pressures from the enemies and the people of Israel, Isaiah did the same... calling upon the Lord, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” Isaiah 64:1 NIV
Yet, God won’t act like a protective parent who will help to clear their children’s messes. Rather, He equippes us to cope and overcome life pressures! Be known that we who are in Christ, we have His grace and have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬
I pray that the grace of Christ which is in us will calm our hearts and give us the endurance in dealing with this complexity of life! And help us to make use of His grace and richness, creatively coping and even overcoming all these pressures!
Have a blessed Advent! And let’s wait with an open heart as the Lord unfolding His grace and hope to us!
~plt051217

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Elok Rupa vs Elok Hati

oleh: Pdt. Dr. The Paw Liang  Seandainya Musa tidak cantik….. Tuhan mendengar seruan dan tangisan bangsa Israel di Mesir. Tuhan berbelas kasihan dan memutuskan untuk menghentikan penderitaan mereka. IA merencanakan dan mempersiapkan rencananya, Musa dipakai untuk melepaskan bangsaNya. Apakah Musa dipilih dari sekian banyak bayi laki-laki yang lahir atau kah memang sudah direncanakan oleh Tuhan sebelum Musa lahir bahwa pemimpin ini akan lahir dari suku Lewi, dari keluarga Amran dan Yokhebed. Ketika Musa lahir, Alkitab mencatat, “Ketika dilihatnya, bahwa anak itu cantik, disembunyikannya tiga bulan lamanya. (Kel 2:2). Harun, abang Musa lahir sebelum Firaun mengeluarkan dekrit untuk membunuh bayi-bayi laki-laki Ibrani. Harun tiga tahun lebih tua dari Musa, adakah bayi lain yang lahir di antara mereka berdua? Tidak ada kepastian dalam hal ini. Namun sepertinya ada penekanan, “ketika dilihatnya, bahwa anak itu cantik …” tidak tega orang tuanya membunuhnya, maka disembunyikanlah bayi i...
3 comments
Read more
“BECOMING A DISCIPLE-MAKING CHURCH” Matt 28: 18 – 20 & 1 John 2: 6—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang In my visit to Shechem in 2015, our tour guide told us that the whole population of Samaria only 700 people. Since they did not marry people from other ethnic groups, they have produced unhealthy offspring. Thankfully the High Priest has amended their law and allowed them to marry men or women from other ethnic groups. Likewise, the church might have unknowingly focus too much on the internal affairs (become incestuous) and forgot Jesus’s commission: Go, and make disciples of all nations. The early church were growing well. Acts 2 shows us they were keen in learning the word of God, worshipping and praying together, enjoying the favour of each other. Their lives attract people to Christ, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Jesus calls us to become His disciples and to make disciples. Discip...
Post a Comment
Read more
  聖靈的果子   和平 以弗所書 2:11-18 黄宝亮牧师   喜樂與平安就像雙胞胎。總是一起到來，有時是三胞胎：愛、喜樂與和平。保羅在他的書信中 21 次提到了 喜樂和 43 次和平。 喜樂與平安並非理所當然從基督教信仰蹦出來。上帝國度的主要標誌喜樂與平安存在於我們生活中的（羅馬書 14:17 “ 因為神的國不在乎吃喝，只在乎公義、和平，並聖靈中的喜樂 ” ） 約翰福音 14:27 “ 我留下平安給你們；我將我的平安賜給你們。我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。你們心裡不要憂愁，也不要膽怯 ” 喜樂與平安是我們事奉上帝和取悅上帝的方式，而不是使用焦慮和憂慮的方式。喜樂與平安是信心盼望的基本要素。 問題：聖靈賜予什麼樣的平安？ 耶穌是和平 耶穌幫助我們與神和好（ Peace with God ），藉著衪的死，衪使我們與神和好。我們所有的債務、罪孽和過失，都被祂的寶血洗淨。我們開啟與上帝一起生命的新篇章。 耶穌幫助我們與他人和好 (Peace with others) ，藉著衪的死，衪也拆毀了所有的隔離牆 — 對於以弗所的基督徒來說，就是遵守律法的猶太基督徒和被認為是野蠻、無神和疏遠的外邦人（希臘人）之間的文化牆。現在這兩個群體是 “ 一個家庭，一個身體 ” ，基督是元首。 指導方針不再是律法。而是耶穌基督，道成了肉身，住在我們中間。當我們閱讀聖經時，我們正在閱讀的是 “ 耶穌的生活 ” ，這將是我們生活的靈感和目標 — 要成爲像耶穌一樣。 我們越來越感受到地球的受傷、炎熱和兇猛的影響。 災難不斷來襲。我們如何才能與自然和其它創造物和平相處？ 當基督使我們與神和好。我們生命始於新的一頁 “ 我們與上帝的生活故事 ” — 我們如何每天以基督的方式，和平的方式與基督一起生活，正如耶利米書 29:11 所寫的，我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。 耶穌賜給我們神的平安 (Peace of God) 當基督的靈住在我們裡面時，神的平安就住在我們裡面。不是世界所給予的和平。 當貧窮的時候，會擔心吃什麼，孩子的未來會怎樣。世界說，賺錢。當你就發財了，就沒有什麼讓你擔心的。是對的嗎？ 已經很富有的人，擔心在哪裡儲藏他們的財富。是...
Post a Comment
Read more