Long ago, I happened to visit a church
where the pastor spoke about peace. He said: “If one has one million dollars in
the bank, then one would definitely be at peace.”
Many feel the same because so
often our security is tied to what we have in our bank account. While financial
security does remove some anxiety from our lives, we definitely cannot say this
pastor’s statement is in line with biblical teaching.
At the beginning of this new year,
may we have the right perspective as we set goals and pursue what God has in
store for us.
While prosperity has a place in
our lives, there are other Ps we should look into. Here are four areas, all
beginning with P, which I believe we should consider:
1. Purity
2. Peace
3. Purpose
4. Passion
PURITY
Having all the financial security
in the world without a right relationship with God is useless. Our priorities are
warped if we think being rich is the best thing that can happen to us this new
year.
To think we are rich and have no
need of anything is to have a false sense of security. That was exactly the
problem with the Laodicean church which prided itself in riches. In God’s eyes,
however, this church was “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked”. Unless
its members repent, they will come under judgment (Revelation 3: 17-19).
May we seek to set ourselves right
before God this new year by confessing our sins and choosing to obey Him. A
broken and contrite heart, He will not despise. May we not grieve the Holy
Spirit. May our hearts be soft and open to correction. Blessed are the pure for
they will see God.
PEACE
Turmoil and turbulence are signs of the times we are now living in: wars, lawlessness, persecution,
famines, earthquakes, pestilences and an imminent financial collapse. The
atrocities committed in the Middle East and the resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus
strike fear and trepidation in the lives of many.
Amid this highly disturbing global
scenario, we should take more time to seek God and find our rest in Him. It is
highly unlikely things will get better. It can only get worse. These end time tribulations
will culminate in the Great Tribulation as the antichrist unleashes a time of unprecedented
suffering for the whole world, including believers.
Let us place our trust in Jesus,
the Prince of Peace, for He promises peace if we place our trust in Him. “In the world you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John
16:33b).
This
peace is not a state that is reached when all things are going on well, whether
in the world or our personal lives—be it good health or financial stability. Rather, it is the ‘in spite of’ kind
of peace which passes all understanding—that which can only be experienced by those who really know God. But can
we say we really know Him—in the heart, not only in the head?
PURPOSE
We may be
righteous before God and living in His peace amid various trials and
tribulations but that is not the whole equation. God has something much more in
store for us.
We need
to know our distinctive gifts and talents and God’s calling for our lives.
Knowing who we are in God’s eyes is imperative if we are to be effective in ministry.
If we are clueless about our giftings and calling, then we are like flotsam
drifting along in the ocean.
Many well-meaning
believers are deeply involved in a particular ministry—meeting diverse needs,
spreading themselves thin, “fighting fires” with leaky hoses and blunt axes.
But if they don’t have a clear understanding of their primary calling in life, they won’t be
effective.
Philosopher and
theologian, Dr Ramesh Richard, once challenged some leaders to reduce their
life work to one word, which to him is “proclamation”. We too need to find that
“one word” that best describes our life work.
This new year we would
do well to spend some quiet moments to discover who we are in God’s eyes so
that we will be more fulfilled and effective.
PASSION
Some of us may know what are our gifts and talents and what God has called us to do. But somehow we have lost
the fire. We are merely chugging along like a steam locomotive when we should have
been zooming like a high speed electric train.
That’s why we need to
learn how to find our rest in Him. Take time to worship Him. Allow His Word to
refresh us. Spend some time away from the hustle and bustle at a place
where we do nothing except give God first priority, away from family and work
responsibilities. Perhaps we need the fellowship and counsel of one or two
confidantes to help us think through where and how far we have gone and which
direction God would have us take in the next phase of our lives.
Learning to wait is
never to be considered a time-wasting activity. Through waiting we learn to get a handle
of God’s direction and timing. And, once being enlightened, we come back with
renewed zeal and fervour. http://bit.ly/ICfkhS
No man of God can continually serve and give of himself to others without recharging his batteries. Even the great prophet, Elijah, faced depression. After God dealt with him under a broom tree, he was recommissioned. He got back his fire (1 Kings 19:4-16).
No man of God can continually serve and give of himself to others without recharging his batteries. Even the great prophet, Elijah, faced depression. After God dealt with him under a broom tree, he was recommissioned. He got back his fire (1 Kings 19:4-16).
This new year, brothers
and sisters, may you get excited about your raison d'être! May the Holy Spirit anoint
and empower you. May He grant you a fresh revelation of His purpose for your life.
God bless.
RELATED POSTS
IS CONFESSION REDUNDANT?
Hyper-grace teaches us that, after our one-time confession of sin at
conversion, believers no longer need to confess our sins. When God looks at us, all He
is going to see is Christ’s blood, not our sins whether it is past, present or
future. We merely rest in the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’.
HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
To live soberly and
purposefully during these perilous end times, we need to arm ourselves with
wisdom and discernment.
RAPTURE BEFORE
TRIBULATION?
Can believers rest in
the security that we will be raptured before the Great Tribulation? Let us
re-examine first-hand the passages on rapture.
IS WAITING WORTH IT?
Are there rewards for waiting? What consequences await those who are
impatient?
WORSHIP BEFORE SERVICE
Getting ourselves
immersed in worship is important. For worship brings down God’s presence and
paves the way for effective service.
THE POWER OF VISION
By embracing a God-inspired vision, we can live purposefully—by design
and not by default.
DISCOVERING OUR IDENTITY
Once we have
resolved some important questions about our identity, we are well on our way to
enjoy sound psychological health. We are also well-positioned to live out God’s
calling for our lives. Otherwise our
lives might be stuck in the doldrums.
SHOULD WE MAKE RESOLUTIONS?
Just because we fail to keep our New Year’s resolutions, does it mean we should not make them?
http://bit.ly/1hIexbC
Just because we fail to keep our New Year’s resolutions, does it mean we should not make them?
http://bit.ly/1hIexbC
WHY WE
BREAK OUR RESOLUTIONS
Ten reasons why we fail to keep our New Year’s resolutions.
http://bit.ly/K8YGaK
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