Today, I understood the Biblical meaning of the word, “poor” referring to the description of God’s people in the book of Zephaniah 3:12. From the Bible commentary, those who wait for God are called poor. It is not merely a question of being economically poor but rather having the attitude of those who have nothing and are open to receive everything from God.
Yes, I’d rather be poor in this sense because it means that God plays an important role in my life and I am beholden to no one for the graces that I receive and that I am nothing without His grace.
What does God require from us? Micah 6:8 writes, “You have been told, O man, what is good and what Yahweh requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The devotional of Blackaby explains that being just, doesn’t only mean that we desire to receive justice, we must also be absolutely just in treating others. It means that if we give our word, we give it with complete integrity and we treat the people who are working for us just as Jesus would have treated them.
To love mercy is to know that having received undeserved mercy from God should motivate us to be merciful to others. Retaliation against those who have wronged us should be resisted because God is always merciful to everyone.
Walking humbly with God means that He doesn’t ask for spectacular acts of service, He just asks for humility. Humility in what I have, what I have achieved because everything comes from God. For without Him, I am nothing.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
"Don't be afraid, just believe"
“As you have believed; so let it be” (Mt. 9: 29), Jesus told the two blind who were following him and shouting, “Son of David, help us!” And when He touched their eyes, they were able to see!
How easy our lives would be, if we are firm in our belief that God will take care of us. But then, we tend to remember God during trials that become insurmountable after so many attempts of solving it on our own. He is the means of last recourse. We try to solve our problems on our own first, before turning to God. We forget to include God in our daily lives, he is the statue shelved at the back and remembered and brought out for supplication when everything seems to go wrong. It is about time that we should realize that He is a living God that breathes life to our souls and make Him our partner in everything we do.
Just before praying, I was tempted to open my computer and check my e-mail before the telephone company might cut off my connection because I haven’t paid my two months bill yet. Last night, I prayed for the Lord to take care of my financial difficulties but still there was a lingering doubt. So, this morning I turned away from the computer and said my morning prayers. The reflection of the gospel was like God telling me, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” The same words he said to Peter when he wanted to go to Jesus who was walking on the river but he floundered when fear overtook him.
“Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Why can’t I let go of the fear niggling in my mind and settling in my heart? I still have to work on my faith and make it steadfast and strong after all the times that God never failed to help me. Help always comes Just In Time and in ways I didn’t expect it to be. So, after praying I opened the computer and several minutes later I received a text message that was God’s way of helping me with my financial problem. Thank you, God!
“ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE, SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND…”
How easy our lives would be, if we are firm in our belief that God will take care of us. But then, we tend to remember God during trials that become insurmountable after so many attempts of solving it on our own. He is the means of last recourse. We try to solve our problems on our own first, before turning to God. We forget to include God in our daily lives, he is the statue shelved at the back and remembered and brought out for supplication when everything seems to go wrong. It is about time that we should realize that He is a living God that breathes life to our souls and make Him our partner in everything we do.
Just before praying, I was tempted to open my computer and check my e-mail before the telephone company might cut off my connection because I haven’t paid my two months bill yet. Last night, I prayed for the Lord to take care of my financial difficulties but still there was a lingering doubt. So, this morning I turned away from the computer and said my morning prayers. The reflection of the gospel was like God telling me, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” The same words he said to Peter when he wanted to go to Jesus who was walking on the river but he floundered when fear overtook him.
“Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Why can’t I let go of the fear niggling in my mind and settling in my heart? I still have to work on my faith and make it steadfast and strong after all the times that God never failed to help me. Help always comes Just In Time and in ways I didn’t expect it to be. So, after praying I opened the computer and several minutes later I received a text message that was God’s way of helping me with my financial problem. Thank you, God!
“ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE, SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND…”
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