Humility is put to the test when faced with disrespect. When we feel cheated, do we react in arrogance to defend and prove our worth? or do we take a step back and realize that we have decided to place our worth in Christ? Because meekness is not to accept the mistreatment we receive as something deserved, but it is simply reacting in love and forgiveness. Even when we feel cheated or hurt by God, it sheds light upon our selfish pride that keeps us from living a life of complete abandonment. How will we carry a cross in the midst of persecution and tribulations if we are without humility?
Our self-worth is established and defended not through pride, but humility. That's where Jesus is.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
bottomless fountains
sometimes, when I come to a deeper understanding of a certain truth, I'm even more overjoyed knowing that at some point, I will encounter another epiphany that will take me even deeper into that truth.
and every epiphany will come to completion in heaven. what we know of love, glory, peace, worship, beauty, freedom, purpose... life. of the why's and what's and how's, of God, of Jesus, of the Holy Spirit. it will all come together. in perfection. it's unimaginable. I can't wait..!
and every epiphany will come to completion in heaven. what we know of love, glory, peace, worship, beauty, freedom, purpose... life. of the why's and what's and how's, of God, of Jesus, of the Holy Spirit. it will all come together. in perfection. it's unimaginable. I can't wait..!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
fear of man.
i was thinking about how eager i get to share good music with friends- how i massively (and illegally) send songs to all my friends that might enjoy it. and it's the same with good food, or a good movie, or close friend that we want to introduce to another close friend. any pleasant experience we have, we naturally feel the desire to share it. and in these situations, i am not discouraged, or caused to question my identity, or feel insecure and rejected when they don't accept it like i do.
i realize it's because these things ultimately do not define me. and in this sense it helps me understand the fear that arises when i want to share Christ, because He gives me my identity. and because its a matter of life and death, rejection means a lot more in sharing the gospel than in sharing a good song. yet, regardless of this fear, it remains that we are compelled to share these things because they stir us up. good things are meant to be shared, and when we like something, we want others to be able to enjoy it too. "IT MUST BE MADE KNOWN." that's my natural reaction to things that excite me. so where is this fervor for the gospel?
the fear. the crippling fear of man. we think Christians need to remain "relevant" in this day and age, to stay politically correct and we scorn those who step on other people's feet in the name of Jesus, thinking they are misrepresenting the love of God.
i'm still not sure, but Jesus stepped on feet wherever he went. the task of balancing gentleness and love without compromising the integrity of God and our faith in Him is a tall one to be sure, but we cannot be afraid of persecution. sometimes these things just become excuses for us to avoid persecution as Christians, but do you realize that it's a part of our calling? we shouldn't be out there trying to piss people off and feel content with causing and feeding a hatred toward God wherever we go, but likewise we shouldn't be trying so hard to please people. moreover, we should be concerned with the very fact that there is a rebellious hatred toward God around us, and we should act in hopes of shedding light onto that darkness. we are to serve people, but the service of utmost importance is to share with them the gospel, whether they receive or not.
so why do we work to gain approval from the eyes of man at the cost of our integrity before God? do we really fear the opinions of man more than the truth of God? to dignify ourselves to the world means to reject the things of God, because Christ was rejected in this world all the same and has called us to turn from the patterns of this world and to follow, to imitate Christ. and to imitate Christ means fellowship, but it also means persecution. a sense of authority, which first requires full obedience and surrender. and ultimately, love that is completely externalized and directed outward, not inwardly toward ourselves. peter rejoiced and praised God after he faced a kind of persecution that makes our simple encounters of rejection seem so trivial. why are we so worried about what a stranger thinks of us? they don't throw stones or spit on us, throw us in jail or.. crucify us. what or whom shall we fear?
...The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear!?!?
i realize it's because these things ultimately do not define me. and in this sense it helps me understand the fear that arises when i want to share Christ, because He gives me my identity. and because its a matter of life and death, rejection means a lot more in sharing the gospel than in sharing a good song. yet, regardless of this fear, it remains that we are compelled to share these things because they stir us up. good things are meant to be shared, and when we like something, we want others to be able to enjoy it too. "IT MUST BE MADE KNOWN." that's my natural reaction to things that excite me. so where is this fervor for the gospel?
the fear. the crippling fear of man. we think Christians need to remain "relevant" in this day and age, to stay politically correct and we scorn those who step on other people's feet in the name of Jesus, thinking they are misrepresenting the love of God.
i'm still not sure, but Jesus stepped on feet wherever he went. the task of balancing gentleness and love without compromising the integrity of God and our faith in Him is a tall one to be sure, but we cannot be afraid of persecution. sometimes these things just become excuses for us to avoid persecution as Christians, but do you realize that it's a part of our calling? we shouldn't be out there trying to piss people off and feel content with causing and feeding a hatred toward God wherever we go, but likewise we shouldn't be trying so hard to please people. moreover, we should be concerned with the very fact that there is a rebellious hatred toward God around us, and we should act in hopes of shedding light onto that darkness. we are to serve people, but the service of utmost importance is to share with them the gospel, whether they receive or not.
so why do we work to gain approval from the eyes of man at the cost of our integrity before God? do we really fear the opinions of man more than the truth of God? to dignify ourselves to the world means to reject the things of God, because Christ was rejected in this world all the same and has called us to turn from the patterns of this world and to follow, to imitate Christ. and to imitate Christ means fellowship, but it also means persecution. a sense of authority, which first requires full obedience and surrender. and ultimately, love that is completely externalized and directed outward, not inwardly toward ourselves. peter rejoiced and praised God after he faced a kind of persecution that makes our simple encounters of rejection seem so trivial. why are we so worried about what a stranger thinks of us? they don't throw stones or spit on us, throw us in jail or.. crucify us. what or whom shall we fear?
...The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear!?!?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
to own a dragon
the process of facing your demons is hardly enjoyable, but it heals. and that's all i ask.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
compassion.
i've been thinking about what the appropriate response would be to the current crisis in japan, or any other event like it.
it's difficult, because a part of you might eagerly wish to be able to go and help right away, and your inability can make you feel useless and apprehensive. yet there is the conflicting understanding that we are just one being, that God doesn't need me specifically to do His work. it takes a level of faith and humility to be at ease and trust in the providence of God to be at work, even without our participation. but this can cripple our compassion and cause us to detach ourselves from the situation and not be moved into any action at all.
there is also the division amongst people about why it happens. some say it's God's wrath and judgment upon a people, others just hope it can be an opportune door towards a spiritual awakening. some are afraid to involve God at all, brushing it off as a work of nature, independent of any influential force.
sometimes things like this overwhelm me, but one thing is for certain:
i was at school, walking to the library. it seemed like every japanese student at our school was out there, trying to gather funds to donate to the crisis. passersby were giving here and there, but as i neared the library there were two men, both picket-preachers, arguing intensely about their beliefs, condemning each other.. and they had attracted a massive crowd, mostly amused by and mocking the pathetic sight of two preachers fighting and delegitimizing each other in the process. and as soon as i walked passed the crowd, there was yet another group trying to gather funds for japan. but they were like ghosts, eclipsed by the draw of the arguing preachers.
i couldn't help but feel embarrassed. there was something bigger and more important at hand, but people were more interested in listening to people fighting, just for the sake of ridiculing them. many Americans' sympathies were quickly overtaken, being more concerned about the possibility of a similar disaster happening to us. apathy. self-centeredness. it's just a fragment of the epidemic in our privileged nation.
we need compassion. we need empathy. we need to literally feel for the pains of others just as Jesus did. it's a product of love. and out of that, we need to act in love and be faithful to whatever opportunity God gives us, even if it's just donating money. what we think God's intentions are is irrelevant. we're just called to live out His love, and that is through the laying down of our lives.. and that does not just entail death. to step into someone else's shoes, to consider others before oneself, and to understand that what we do unto them, Jesus takes personally... and even then, we must also understand that it is not just for physical needs we must gain compassion for, but for the lost. that we would mourn more for the souls that were lost more than those who lost their material possessions. You did not mourn for Job, but You ran after the lost sheep. open our eyes God, and open our hearts. to Your kingdom.
it's difficult, because a part of you might eagerly wish to be able to go and help right away, and your inability can make you feel useless and apprehensive. yet there is the conflicting understanding that we are just one being, that God doesn't need me specifically to do His work. it takes a level of faith and humility to be at ease and trust in the providence of God to be at work, even without our participation. but this can cripple our compassion and cause us to detach ourselves from the situation and not be moved into any action at all.
there is also the division amongst people about why it happens. some say it's God's wrath and judgment upon a people, others just hope it can be an opportune door towards a spiritual awakening. some are afraid to involve God at all, brushing it off as a work of nature, independent of any influential force.
sometimes things like this overwhelm me, but one thing is for certain:
i was at school, walking to the library. it seemed like every japanese student at our school was out there, trying to gather funds to donate to the crisis. passersby were giving here and there, but as i neared the library there were two men, both picket-preachers, arguing intensely about their beliefs, condemning each other.. and they had attracted a massive crowd, mostly amused by and mocking the pathetic sight of two preachers fighting and delegitimizing each other in the process. and as soon as i walked passed the crowd, there was yet another group trying to gather funds for japan. but they were like ghosts, eclipsed by the draw of the arguing preachers.
i couldn't help but feel embarrassed. there was something bigger and more important at hand, but people were more interested in listening to people fighting, just for the sake of ridiculing them. many Americans' sympathies were quickly overtaken, being more concerned about the possibility of a similar disaster happening to us. apathy. self-centeredness. it's just a fragment of the epidemic in our privileged nation.
we need compassion. we need empathy. we need to literally feel for the pains of others just as Jesus did. it's a product of love. and out of that, we need to act in love and be faithful to whatever opportunity God gives us, even if it's just donating money. what we think God's intentions are is irrelevant. we're just called to live out His love, and that is through the laying down of our lives.. and that does not just entail death. to step into someone else's shoes, to consider others before oneself, and to understand that what we do unto them, Jesus takes personally... and even then, we must also understand that it is not just for physical needs we must gain compassion for, but for the lost. that we would mourn more for the souls that were lost more than those who lost their material possessions. You did not mourn for Job, but You ran after the lost sheep. open our eyes God, and open our hearts. to Your kingdom.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
the image of the invisible.
maybe the invisibility of our faith is reflective of the way we think of Jesus.
i know we can't literally see or feel him, but the fact is that he was a real man, flesh and bones. and the sooner we embrace the reality of Jesus, the sooner we will be moved into real faith.
he showed his love for us to the world, and we are called to do the same.
i know we can't literally see or feel him, but the fact is that he was a real man, flesh and bones. and the sooner we embrace the reality of Jesus, the sooner we will be moved into real faith.
he showed his love for us to the world, and we are called to do the same.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
i am troubled.
troubled because all i see are mental christians. people who internalize their convictions into beliefs and ideologies, never allowing them to take root in their life. never overcoming their fear of man, fear of rejection and failure. fear of breaking comfort, thinking that comfort is the source of joy. thinking thoughts of possibility and option rather than those of willingness and intention. why is God so hypothetical in our lives? we indulge in our knowledge of God and feel good when we can have deep conversations about him, but He is not manifest through our lives.
yet i confess that most of all, i am troubled by the man in the mirror.
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