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April to June2009

“Grow in Grace,and in the

knowledge ofour Lord andSaviour Jesus

Christ”

byRev Hien Nguyen

__________________

About the Author

Rev Hien Nguyen hasbeen Pastor of BrisbaneBib le -P resby te r i anChurch (Australia) sinceits inception in August2006. He received hisMaster of Divinity(2003) and Master ofTheology (2004) degreesfrom the Far EasternBible College(Singapore).

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1PSALM 12 PETER 3:18

“But grow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ.”

GROW IN GRACE AND INTHE KNOWLEDGE

OF OUR LORD

Nowadays, we often hear of“Church Growth” with man’s ideasand worldly methods, and manychurches are boastful of their“church growth” with their bigmembership and wealth.

How about true church growth? It islike a mustard seed. Jesus says that“It is like a grain of mustard seed,which a man took, and cast into hisgarden; and it grew, and waxed agreat tree; and the fowls of the airlodged in the branches of it” (Luke13:19). There must be life within inorder to grow. Without life, therecan be no growth. A healthy childgrows naturally. We must be bornagain and be nurtured with the Wordof God if we want to grow spiritually.“As newborn babes, desire thesincere milk of the word, that ye maygrow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritualgrowth is the work of God and notof man. True spiritual growth mustcome from God alone. We can nevergrow spiritually and bear fruit byourselves without the Lord, our TrueVine. Our Lord Jesus confirms, “I amthe vine, ye are the branches: Hethat abideth in me, and I in him, thesame bringeth forth much fruit: forwithout me ye can do nothing”(John 15:5). God’s Word alsoconfirms, “So then neither is he thatplanteth any thing, neither he thatwatereth; but God that giveth theincrease (growth)” (1 Cor 3:7).“Church growth” is the spiritualgrowth of born-again Christianswho rely on and submit to God andHis Word.

The verb “grow” is a command inthe present tense, denoting to “keepon growing.” God commands youand me to keep on growing in Hisgrace and in His knowledge. Are youreally growing spiritually day byday?

THOUGHT: We must have God’s lifewithin in order to grow spiritually.PRAYER: Lord, help me grow inYour grace and in Your knowledge.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2PSALM 8JOHN 3:16 “For God so loved the world.”

GOD’S COMMON GRACE

God’s grace is God’s love, mercy,favour, and blessings towardmankind, especially toward Hischildren regardless of their merits.Understanding the Scriptures, wemay see God’s common grace for allmankind and His special grace forthe elect or His children.

We are to be grateful to God for Hiscommon grace or general blessingstoward us on this earth and in thisuniverse such as the rain, thesunshine, seasons, fruitful crops,etc. “But I say unto you, Love yourenemies, bless them that curse you,do good to them that hate you, andpray for them which despitefully useyou, and persecute you; That ye maybe the children of your Fatherwhich is in heaven: for he makethhis sun to rise on the evil and onthe good, and sendeth rain on thejust and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:44-45) and “Nevertheless he left nothimself without witness, in that hedid good, and gave us rain fromheaven, and fruitful seasons, fillingour hearts with food and gladness”(Acts 14:17).

By His common grace and love, Goddoes desire all mankind to repent andto be saved. “Who will have all mento be saved, and to come unto theknowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4)and “not willing that any shouldperish, but that all should come torepentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God gavemankind His only begotten Son, theLord Jesus Christ, who came into theworld as a perfect God-Man to diefor the sins of all mankind and torise again for the justification andsalvation of everyone who believesand receives Him as his personalLord and Saviour (John 3:16). Whensinners reject God’s grace, andespecially God’s plan of salvationin Christ, God is righteous andvindicated to condemn them to hell.

THOUGHT: God’s grace and loveare manifested in Jesus Christ.PRAYER: Thank You, Father, forYour amazing grace and love.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3EPHESIANS 2:1-10EPHESIANS 2:8

“For by grace areye saved through faith.”

GOD’S SPECIAL GRACE

Even though God has shown Hiscommon grace and love towardmankind including you and me, thetotal depravity and rebellion ofhuman hearts hinder us fromsincerely believing in andsubmitting to God and His Word.Then, if we sinners are cast into Hell,we deserve it.

However, we must give thanks toGod for His special grace, savinggrace or irresistible grace (Calvin’sTULIP) that, by His great love (Eph2:4) and His election of grace (Rom11:5), He has chosen us (John15:16), drawn us to Himself (John6:44, 65), quickened us together withChrist (Eph 2:1, 5), delivered us fromthe power of darkness and broughtus into His kingdom of light (Col1:13), even granted us faith tobelieve and to be saved (Eph 2:8)and justified (Rom 3:24). All is byGod’s grace alone. Praise the Lord!

Truly, “My grace is sufficient forthee: for my strength is made perfectin weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). By God’ssufficient grace not only are wesaved, but we can also live a godlylife overcoming our sinful nature,Satan, temptations, trials in life andworldliness (Rom 7:24-25; Rom 8:37;2 Cor 2:14; 1 John 2:14, 5:5).Moreover, by God’s grace, we shallbe kept safe in the Lord’s mightyhands and be saved forever, “And Igive unto them eternal life; and theyshall never perish, neither shall anyman pluck them out of my hand. MyFather, which gave them me, isgreater than all; and no man is ableto pluck them out of my Father’shand” (John 10:28-29). All is byGod’s grace alone from thebeginning until the end, my friends.Let us give all glory and thanks untothe Lord.

THOUGHT: “So then it is not of himthat willeth, nor of him that runneth,but of God that showeth mercy”(Rom 9:16).PRAYER: O Lord, how I thank Youfor graciously choosing me, savingme, preserving me and blessing me!

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4JAMES 4:1-102 PETER 3:18

“Grow in grace.”

KEEP ON GROWING INGOD’S GRACE

Besides thanking God for Hisamazing grace for our salvation, wemust remember that we also needGod’s grace for our daily walk withHim, for our service to Him, and forour battle against the enemies of oursouls, even “self”, Satan, wrongdoctrines, and worldliness. We thankGod for His sufficient grace in ourLord Jesus Christ, who confirms,“My grace is sufficient for thee: formy strength is made perfect inweakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Truly, “Andthe Word was made flesh, and dweltamong us,… full of grace andtruth… And of his fulness have allwe received, and grace for grace.For… grace and truth came by JesusChrist” (John 1:14,16,17) and “hegiveth more grace” (James 4:6).God’s grace is always sufficient forall our needs, and we can never useup His unlimited and abundantgrace. Then how do we grow inGod’s grace?

Humble Ourselves More with FullSubmission: As “God resisteth theproud, but giveth grace unto thehumble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), weare to humble ourselves before God(James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). Manyappear very gentle and humblebefore men but are not totallysubmissive to the Lord and HisWord! True humility before Godmeans our full dependence on andsubmission to Him and His Word.

Humbly Come to the Lord Himselfwith Trust and Dependence: Allgrace comes from the Lord Himselfalone, so “Let us therefore comeboldly unto the throne of grace, thatwe may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help in time of need” withtrust and dependence (Heb 4:16).

Grow in God’s Knowledge: Ourgrowth in God’s grace depends onour growth in His knowledge (2 Peter1:2). The more we know the Lord,the more we shall humbly trust inHim and His sufficient grace.

THOUGHT: “But by the grace ofGod I am what I am” (1 Cor 15:10).PRAYER: O Lord, help me grow inYour grace daily.

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LORD’ S DAY, APRIL 5PHILIPPIANS 3:1-112 PETER 3:18

“Grow … in the knowledge of our

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

KEEP ON GROWING INTHE KNOWLEDGE

OF OUR LORD

In this world we usually admire thelearned or scholarly people whohave a wide knowledge of manythings. But how about theknowledge of God and of our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ? God says,“Thus saith the LORD, Let not thewise man glory in his wisdom,neither let the mighty man glory inhis might, let not the rich man gloryin his riches: But let him thatglorieth glory in this, that heunderstandeth and knoweth me,that I am the LORD which exerciselovingkindness, judgment, andrighteousness, in the earth: for inthese things I delight, saith theLORD” (Jer 9:23-24), and “For Idesired mercy, and not sacrifice;and the knowledge of God morethan burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).God not only desires and delightsin our knowledge of Him but alsocommands us to keep on growing inHis knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).

You and I cannot trust or followsomeone we do not know well. It isvital for us to experientially know theLord personally. The more we knowthe Lord and what He has done forus, the more we shall love Him andappreciate Him. The more we knowour Lord’s majesty and holiness, themore we shall humbly fear Him anddepart from evil. The more we knowour Lord’s faithfulness andsovereignty, the more we shall trustin Him and commit everything toHim. The more we know our Lord’slove, grace and mercy, the more weshall be thankful to Him and willingto serve Him. The more we know andkeep our Lord’s faithful words, themore we stand firm on His surefoundation.

Are you really growing in theknowledge of our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ daily as He commandsus?

THOUGHT: A heart knowledge ofour Lord is so vital.PRAYER: O Lord, help me grow inYour knowledge daily.

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MONDAY, APRIL 6JOHN 14:1-11JOHN 5:39

“Search the scriptures…

which testify of me.”

A HEART-KNOWLEDGE OFTHE LORD JESUS CHRIST

(1)

God commands us to keep ongrowing in His grace and in theknowledge of our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ. As Jesus Christ, theSon of God, came into this world asa perfect God-Man to reveal God theFather to mankind, the more weknow about the Lord Jesus Christ,the more we know about GodHimself. Truly, “No man hath seenGod at any time; the only begottenSon, which is in the bosom of theFather, he hath declared him” (John1:18). Jesus says, “He that believethon me, believeth not on me, but onhim that sent me. And he that seethme seeth him that sent me” (John12: 44-45) and “If ye had known me,ye should have known my Fatheralso: and from henceforth ye knowhim, and have seen him” (John 14:7).

As God inspired His servants towrite the truth about Him, His will,His creation, and His salvation formankind, we are to read and studyGod’s Word, the Holy Scriptures.Thank God for His omnipotence,omniscience and omnipresence thatHe is able to perfectly preserve Hisinspired words (Ps 12:6-7; Matt 5:18;24:35; 2 Tim 3:16; etc) for Hischildren to read without any doubtor confusion. That is the MasoreticText of the Hebrew Old Testamentand the Received Text of the GreekNew Testament, underlying theKing James Bible.

In order to have a heart-knowledgeof the Lord, we must be born again,have a desire to know about Him,seek Him, study and keep His Word,take up our cross and follow Him.

THOUGHT: The Holy Scripturestestify of the Lord Jesus Christ.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, forhaving preserved Your Word for meto read and to know about You.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7JOHN 3:1-8JOHN 17:3

“And this is life eternal,

that they might know thee.”

A HEART-KNOWLEDGE OFTHE LORD JESUS CHRIST

(2)

Be Born Again: The first conditionto have a heart-knowledge of Godand the Lord Jesus Christ is to beborn again into God’s family. Manyprofessing Christians think that theyknow the Lord, but it may be onlyhead-knowledge. Some of us mayknow and talk about a well-knownking, president, prime minister,scientist, or philosopher but we donot have any relationship with him.Likewise, many professingChristians may know and talk oreven preach about the Lord JesusChrist, but they do not have anyrelationship with Him. A dog may befaithful and intelligent but it is acreature created much lower thanman. It may recognize its owner,express its feelings and have somesimple communication with him, butit cannot know him and havefellowship with him as a son can withhis father. Likewise, if we are notborn again by the Holy Spirit andby God’s Word (John 3:5-6; 1 Peter1:23), we cannot experientially knowthe Lord and have a close fellowshipwith Him as a child knows his fatheror as a bride knows her bridegroom.

Our Lord Jesus prays to His Father,“And this is life eternal, that theymight know thee the only true God,and Jesus Christ, whom thou hastsent” (John 17:3). Dear friends, wemust be born again so that we mayhave eternal life and a livingfellowship with Him, and then maygrow in the knowledge of Him as achild gets to know more about hisfather while he is growing up.

THOUGHT: Without being bornagain, we are hopeless at knowingthe Lord Jesus Christ experientially.PRAYER: Lord, thank You forgraciously giving me eternal life sothat I may know You and havefellowship with You.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8PROVERBS 8:32-36PSALM 73:25

“There is none upon earth

that I desire beside thee.”

A HEART-KNOWLEDGE OFTHE LORD JESUS CHRIST

(3)

Desire to Know the Lord: Goddelights in our knowledge of Him (Jer9:23-24) and commands us to keepon growing in His knowledge (2 Peter3:18), so we must have a desire toknow Him; otherwise, we areindifferent or lukewarm like thebelievers in Laodicea (Rev 3:16-17).The Psalmist says, “Whom have I inheaven but thee? And there is noneupon earth that I desire beside thee”(Ps 73:25). Our Lord will be pleasedwhen we, like Paul, can “count allthings but loss for the excellency ofthe knowledge of Christ Jesus”(Phil 3:8).

We are growing in the knowledge ofthe Lord if today or this month weknow Him and His Word better thanyesterday or last month. If we arecontent with our knowledge of theLord and His Word in the past buttoday we do not have any desire toknow Him more, we are not growing.Then, let us “press toward the markfor the prize of the high calling ofGod in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3: 14).

Seek the Lord First: It is not enoughto have a desire to know the Lord.To know someone or something wellrequires our time, zeal and effort. Wehave to seek the Lord and His Worddaily through our personal devotiontime, Bible study, and worship. TheHoly Spirit uses His Word to revealthe Lord and His Truth to us. This isGod’s promise, “And ye shall seekme, and find me, when ye shallsearch for me with all your heart”(Jer 29:13). The Lord Jesus says,“But seek ye first the kingdom ofGod, and his righteousness; and allthese things shall be added untoyou” (Matt 6:33). Do you seek theLord and His Word first daily?

THOUGHT: A lukewarm heartcannot please the Lord.PRAYER: Lord, please help medesire to know You and seek Youfirst daily.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 9PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11JOHN 14:21

“I will love him,

and will manifest myself to him.”

A HEART-KNOWLEDGE OFTHE LORD JESUS CHRIST

(4)

Keep His Word with HumbleSubmission: Paul said, “I count allthings but loss for the excellency ofthe knowledge of Christ Jesus myLord” (Phil 3:8). When confessingJesus Christ as Lord, we must meanthat He is our supreme and sovereignLord and that we are not our ownbut the Lord’s as His bond-slave.Our Lord Jesus says, “He that hathmy commandments, and keepeththem, he it is that loveth me: and hethat loveth me shall be loved of myFather, and I will love him, and willmanifest myself to him” (John 14:21).Our Lord Jesus will manifest Himselfmore to us when we love Him andhumbly submit to Him and His Word.Those who doubt, question, orcriticize God’s Word are arrogant andrebellious and cannot experientiallyknow the Lord.

Take up One’s Cross and FollowHim: To know the Lord more, wemust take up our cross and followHim faithfully unto death. Paul said,“That I may know him, and thepower of his resurrection, and thefellowship of his sufferings, beingmade conformable unto his death”(Phil 3:10). It is a blessing to knowthe power of Jesus’ resurrection inour lives and ministry to overcomeSatan, our sinful nature andworldliness. But do we also regardit a blessing to know the fellowshipof Jesus’ sufferings and to beconformed unto His death? Whenwe encounter misjudgment,contempt, criticism, hatred, betrayal,opposition, attacks or persecutionsfrom the world or from professingChristians, it is a blessing to knowand understand the sufferings ofour Lord, who “endured suchcontradiction of sinners againsthimself” (Heb 12:3). Then we maybe constrained by His love towillingly be conformed to His death– death to “self,” and to sins and toworldliness.

THOUGHT: Do I humbly submit tomy Lord and His Word?PRAYER: Lord, help me humblysubmit to You and Your Wordalways.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10ISAIAH 53:1-121 CORINTHIANS 15:3

“Christ died for our sinsaccording to the scriptures.”

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday is the day wecommemorate the death of our LordJesus Christ, who was despised,rejected, hated, persecuted,blasphemed, betrayed, forsaken,beaten, and crucified on the cross.Then He died and was buried. Whodid He died for? For all mankindincluding you and me!

Jesus bare our sins as well as “thesins of the whole world” in His ownbody on the cross (1 Peter 2:24; 1John 2:2), and His holy Father turnedHis face from His dearly beloved Sonat the moment when all thewickedness, sins, unrighteousness,iniquities, and transgressions ofhuman beings were upon the LordJesus, who cried, “My God, my God,why has thou forsaken me?” (Matt27:46).

Dear friends, we can never fullyunderstand how great and deepChrist’s sufferings were. And it isno fault of His, but because of yoursins and my sins: “Christ alsosuffered for us…for sins” (1 Peter2:21, 3:18, 4:1). It is because ofChrist’s love and because of oursalvation that He suffered and diedfor us. Let us remember our Lord’slove and sacrifice and be grateful.Being purchased by His blood, weare to glorify God with our lives,“For ye are bought with a price:therefore glorify God in your body,and in your spirit, which are God’s”(1 Cor 6:20).

It is vital for us to experientially“know the love of Christ, whichpasseth knowledge, that ye mightbe filled with all the fullness ofGod” (Eph 3:19) so that His love mayconstrain us to live for Him (2 Cor5:14), to “follow his steps,” to be“partakers of Christ’s sufferings” (1Peter 2:21, 4:13), and to be “faithfulunto death” (Rev 2:10).

THOUGHT: I have to receiveChrist’s love and sacrifice for myselfpersonally. He “loved me, and gavehimself for me” (Gal 2:20).PRAYER: O Lord, how I thank Youfor Your love and sacrifice for me!

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SATURDAY, APRIL 111 JOHN 4:7-121 JOHN 4:10

“He loved us, and sent his Son

to be the propitiation for our sins.”

GOD’S LOVE ANDRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

Many do not see God’s love and justblame Him for all the sufferings andevils in their lives or in this world,while others take God’s love forgranted and keep living in sin. Wemust have a right attitude toward ourLord’s death on the cross for us andfor our sins.

God’s Love for Us Is True andGreat: We may be in the midst oftroubles and trials of life, and Satanand our sinful nature may cause usto doubt God’s love. Let us look atthe Lord Jesus Christ, who reallyloves us and has died for us and oursins. Hear God’s faithful Word: “ButGod commendeth his love towardus, in that, while we were yetsinners, Christ died for us” (Rom5:8), and “Herein is love, not thatwe loved God, but that he loved us,and sent his Son to be thepropitiation for our sins” (1 John4:10).

God’s Judgment Is Sure: Our LordJesus Christ’s death on the Crossreveals not only God’s love but alsoGod’s righteous judgment. Sin isalways serious. If God could haveignored sins, Jesus would not havecome to die for mankind’s sins. Theholy and righteous God had tocondemn and deal with sin. If JesusChrist did not suffer the deathpenalty for our sins, we must becondemned to hell for our sins. Letus remember our Lord’s humble andshameful death on the Cross for oursins so that we may humbly receiveHis death for our sins with muchappreciation, and then by His graceand strength we stop living in sin assin is always serious and God’sjudgment is sure.

THOUGHT: God’s love is true andHis righteous judgment is sure.PRAYER: O Lord, thank You forbeing judged and punished in mystead for my sins!

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LORD’S DAY, APRIL 12JOHN 20:19-311 CORINTHIANS 15:4

“He rose again.”

JESUS CHRIST ROSEAGAIN

The resurrection of the Lord Jesusis the important foundation of ourfaith and our salvation. A deadperson cannot save or help anyoneas he cannot see, hear, know, ormove. “If Christ be not risen, thenis our preaching vain, and yourfaith is also vain… ye are yet in yoursins…are perished” (1 Cor 15:14, 17-18). Truly, if Jesus Christ had notrisen, it would be vain for us to trustin Him, pray to Him or worship Himas He cannot hear, know, help orsave! But praise God that the LordJesus really rose again, and He isever living to hear our prayers andhas power to save us perfectly,“Wherefore he is able also to savethem to the uttermost that come untoGod by him, seeing he ever liveth tomake intercession for them” (Heb7:25).

The resurrection of our Lord JesusChrist proves that

- Jesus is the Son of God, is GodHimself with all power (Rom 1:4).

- Jesus fulfilled all of Scriptures(Luke 24:27, 44).

- Jesus’ atoning sacrifice has beenaccepted (Acts 2:22-36). Hisresurrection is for ourjustification (Rom 4:25).

- Jesus has overcome Satan,death and the world (John 16:33;1 Cor 15:25-26; 1 John 3:8, 4:4,5:5).

Jesus’ resurrection secures His newlife in us to overcome our sinfulnature, Satan, temptations, trials oflife, and worldliness (Rom 7:24-25,8:37; 2 Cor 2:14; 1 John 2:14, 5:5).

Jesus’ resurrection ensures that ourlabour in Him will not be in vain (1Cor 15:58) and that He will come backagain to give us a glorious body likeHis (Acts 1:11; 1 Cor 15:22, 34, 51,57; Phil 3:21; 1 Thess 4:16-17). Praisethe Lord!

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ “wasdelivered for our offences, and wasraised again for our justification”(Rom 4:25).PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Yourdeath for me and for Yourresurrection for me.

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MONDAY, APRIL 13EXODUS 3:1-15REVELATION 17:14

“He is Lord of lords.”

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

Many know Jesus as a good prophetor a good teacher, but we must knowHim as our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist, “But grow in grace, and inthe knowledge of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18;cf. 1:11; 2:20). The phrase “our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ” has onlyone definite article in Greek,denoting one Divine Person, ourSaviour Jesus Christ is the LORD,the Jehovah, the “I AM THAT I AM”in the Old Testament (Exod 3:14; cf.Isa 6:3; John 12:41). Our Lord Jesusconfirms that He is the Jehovah byHis “I AM” statement, “Verily,verily, I say unto you, BeforeAbraham was, I am” (John 8:58),and due to this, the Jews wanted tostone Him. Let us meditate on Jesus’other seven “I AM” statements andtrust that He is All we need:

- “I am the bread of life: he thatcometh to me shall neverhunger; and he that believethon me shall never thirst” (John6:35).

- “I am the light of the world: hethat followeth me shall not walkin darkness, but shall have thelight of life” (John 8:12).

- “I am the door: by me if any manenter in, he shall be saved, andshall go in and out, and findpasture” (John 10:9).

- “I am the good shepherd: the goodshepherd giveth his life for thesheep” (John 10:11).

- “I am the resurrection, and thelife: he that believeth in me,though he were dead, yet shallhe live” (John 11:25).

- “I am the way, the truth, and thelife: no man cometh unto theFather, but by me” (John 14:6).

- “I am the true vine,… ye are thebranches: He that abideth in me,and I in him, the same bringethforth much fruit: for without meye can do nothing” (John15:1,5).

THOUGHT: “God hath made thatsame Jesus… both Lord and Christ”(Acts 2:36).PRAYER: Lord, help me exalt Youas Lord of my life.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 14MATTHEW 7:21-29PHILIPPIANS 2:11

“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

IS JESUS REALLY YOURLORD?

An experiential knowledge of JesusChrist as our personal Lord is vitalfor us. Many professing Christianssay to Jesus, “Lord, Lord” withtheir lips but their hearts are notsubmissive to Him or His Word atall. They still use their lives, theirtime, and all they have according totheir own will and plan. They stillwant to speak, read, watch, listen to,believe, write and do whatever theylike or go wherever they likeregardless of the Lord and His willand His Word! Many evenarrogantly question, criticise, andmisinterpret the Lord’s Word! OurLord Jesus says, “Not every one thatsaith unto me, Lord, Lord, shallenter into the kingdom of heaven;but he that doeth the will of myFather which is in heaven” (Matt7:21).

Dear friends, when we confess thatJesus is the Lord, we must mean thatHe is the Jehovah, the covenantLord of His covenant people, theself-existent and self-sufficient God,eternal, immutable, holy, mighty,loving, and faithful to Hiscovenants, to His promises and toHis Word. And when we confessthat Jesus is our Lord, we must meanthat He has the full authority andright over our lives, our time and allwe have, and that we are not ourown but His, and that we willinglysubmit to Him and His Word withour trust and dependence.

How can human beings with theirtotally corrupt, depraved, sinful andrebellious nature (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:7-8) be submissive to Jesus Christ asLord? Thank God that the Holy Spiritis able to subdue our sinful natureand help us humbly exalt JesusChrist as our Lord, “no man can saythat Jesus is the Lord, but by theHoly Ghost” (1 Cor 12:3).

THOUGHT: “And Thomasanswered and said unto him, MyLord and my God” (John 20:28).PRAYER: My Lord Jesus, help mesubmit to You and Your Wordalways.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15JOHN 5:15-271 JOHN 4:15

“Jesus is the Son of God.”

JESUS IS THE SON OFGOD

The name “the Son of God”referring to our Lord Jesus Christhas at least 46 occurrences in theNew Testament. The HolyScriptures testify that Jesus Christis “the Son of God” (Mark 1:1; Rom1:4). The angel Gabriel announcedthat Jesus Christ is “the Son of theHighest” and “the Son of God”(Luke 1:32; 35). John the Baptist sawthe Holy Spirit descending andremaining on Jesus and testified thatJesus is “the Son of God” (John1:33-34).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himselfdeclares that He is “the Son of God”(John 3:18; 5:25; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4;Rev 2:18). Jesus also declares Hiseternal Sonship as “the onlybegotten Son of God” (John 3:18;cf. 1:18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9). Sadly,many modern English versions, likethe New International Version,replace “only begotten” with “oneand only,” undermining the eternalSonship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus also confirms Hisequality with His Father, “I and myFather are one” (John 10:30) and“If ye had known me, ye shouldhave known my Father also: andfrom henceforth ye know him, andhave seen him” (John 14:7). WhenJesus spoke of God and prayed toGod as His Father, He also identifiedHimself as the Son of God, makingHimself equal with God (Matt 11:25-27; 26:29,39,42; John 3:35; 5:17-26;6: 44-46; 17:1-26; etc), and “the Jewssought the more to kill him, becausehe not only had broken the sabbath,but said also that God was hisFather, making himself equal withGod” (John 5:18; cf. 19:7).

Then, when we confess that JesusChrist is the Son of God, we mustmean that Jesus Christ was notcreated but begotten of God frometernity, and that He is equal withGod and that He is God Himself.

THOUGHT: “I believe that JesusChrist is the Son of God” (Acts8:37).PRAYER: My Lord Jesus, I believeYou are the Son of God and You areGod.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 161 JOHN 5:1-13MATTHEW 11:27

“No man knoweth the Son,

but the Father.”

DO YOU BELIEVE THATJESUS IS THE SON OF

GOD?

Many nowadays do not believe thatJesus Christ is equal with God andis God Himself. How about you?

After Jesus calmed the storm by HisWord, His disciples “came andworshipped him, saying, Of a truththou art the Son of God” (Matt14:33). Peter confessed that Jesus is“the Christ, the Son of the livingGod” (Matt 16:16; John 6:69). Wecan hear the same confession thatJesus Christ is “the Son of God”from Nathanael (John 1:49), Martha(John 11:27), the centurion and thosewith him (Matt 27:54), the Ethiopianeunuch (Acts 8:37), etc. John wrotehis Gospel with a clear purpose, “Butthese are written, that ye mightbelieve that Jesus is the Christ, theSon of God; and that believing yemight have life through his name”(John 20:31; cf. 1 John 5:13). AfterPaul met Jesus and was converted,he immediately preached that JesusChrist is “the Son of God” (Acts8:37) and confirmed that truth in hisepistles (Rom 1:4; 2 Cor 1:19; etc).

Truly knowing, believing andconfessing that Jesus is the Son ofGod must come from God. Jesussaid to Peter, “Blessed art thou,Simon Barjona: for flesh and bloodhath not revealed it unto thee, butmy Father which is in heaven”(Matt 16:17). God’s Word confirms,“Whosoever shall confess that Jesusis the Son of God, God dwelleth inhim, and he in God” (1 John 4:15).

Our faith in the Son of God is ourLife and our victory over the world,“Who is he that overcometh theworld, but he that believeth thatJesus is the Son of God?...He thathath the Son hath life; and he thathath not the Son of God hath notlife” (1 John 5:5, 12).

THOUGHT: Grow in the knowledgeof the Son of God (Eph 4:13).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me toexperientially know You as the Sonof God.

19

FRIDAY, APRIL 17HEBREWS 1:8-14JOHN 1:1

“The Word was God.”R

JESUS IS GOD

As Jesus is the LORD and the Sonof God, He is God Himself. Thereare more biblical proofs testifyingthat Jesus is God.

The phrase “God and Saviour JesusChrist” in these two followingverses has one definite article inGreek, denoting that our SaviourJesus Christ is God Himself:“Looking for that blessed hope, andthe glorious appearing of the greatGod and our Saviour Jesus Christ”(Titus 2:13) and “through therighteousness of God and ourSaviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).

Isaiah foretold the coming of theLord Jesus, and His Name is called“Emmanuel” which beinginterpreted is, “God with us” (Isa7:14; Matt 1:23) and “Wonderful,Counsellor, The mighty God, Theeverlasting Father, The Prince ofPeace” (Isa 9:6). Jesus is called “theeverlasting Father” although He isnot God the Father, denoting thatHe has the same eternal essence ofGod. Jesus’ name is also called “TheWord of God” (Rev 19:13), and “theWord of life,” (1 John 1:1), and “Inthe beginning was the Word, andthe Word was with God, and theWord was God” (John 1:1).

It is amazing that God the Fathersays to His Son, “Thy throne, OGod, is for ever and ever” (Heb 1:8).Another clear Bible verse about ourLord Jesus’ Deity is “And withoutcontroversy great is the mystery ofgodliness: God was manifest in theflesh, justified in the Spirit, seen ofangels, preached unto the Gentiles,believed on in the world, receivedup into glory” (1 Tim 3:16). Sadly,many modern English versions, likethe NIV, replace “God” with “He,”undermining the Deity of our LordJesus Christ.

In Heaven, Jesus Christ isworshipped as God, “Worthy is theLamb that was slain to receivepower, and riches, and wisdom, andstrength, and honour, and glory,and blessing” (Rev 5:12). Howabout you?

THOUGHT: “And Thomasanswered and said unto him, MyLord and my God” (John 20:28).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are myGod.

20

SATURDAY, APRIL 18JOHN 17:1-10REVELATION 5:12

“Worthy is the Lamb.”

DO YOU BELIEVE THATJESUS IS GOD?

It is always good for us to meditateon some of our Lord Jesus’ Divineattributes so that we may fear Him,honour Him, love Him, and trust inHim. Our Lord Jesus is:

- Eternal: “Thy throne, O God, isfor ever and ever” (Heb 1:8)

- Omnipresent: “I am with youalway” (Matt 28:20; cf. Matt18:20)

- Omniscient: “Jesus knew fromthe beginning” (John 6:64; cf2:24)

- Omnipotent: “All power is givenunto me” (Matt 28:18)

- Unchangeable: “Jesus Christthe same yesterday, and to day,and for ever” (Heb 13:8; cf. 1:12).

- Holy: “he that is holy” (Rev 3:7;cf. Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27)

- Righteous: “Thou hast lovedrighteousness” (Heb 1:9; cf. Isa53:11).

- Just: “the Holy One and theJust” (Acts 3:14; cf. 1 Peter 3:18)

- Faithful: “Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness” (Rev 1:5;3:14).

- True: Jesus is called “Faithfuland True” (Rev 19:11; cf. 3:14).

- Glorious: “our Lord JesusChrist, the Lord of glory”(James 2:1).

- Good: “the goodshepherd,…Good Master”(John 10:11; Matt 19:16).

- Loving: “he loved them unto theend” (John 13:1; cf 15: 9, 13).

- Gracious: “My grace issufficient for thee” (2 Cor 12:9;cf. John 1:14)

- Merciful: “a merciful andfaithful high priest” (Heb 2:17)

- Long-suffering: “show forth alllong-suffering” (1 Tim 1:16)

- Forgiving: “the Son of man hathpower… to forgive sins” (Matt9:6).

- Giving Life: “he should giveeternal life” (John 17:2; cf. 6:33;10:10).

- Our Object of Worship: “Worthyis the Lamb...” (Rev 5:12; cf.Matt 28:9).

- Our Object of Faith: “the authorand finisher of our faith” (Heb

12:2).

Dear friends, do you really believethat Jesus Christ is God, who isworthy to receive our worship,thanks, praise, reverence, love, andobedience?

THOUGHT: Our Lord Jesus Christis God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me tohonour, trust, obey and worship Youworthily as God.

21

LORD’S DAY, APRIL 19COLOSSIANS 1:12-20JOHN 1:3

“All things were made by him.”

JESUS IS THE CREATOR

As Jesus is the Son of God and GodHimself, He is the Creator, all-powerful, all-wise, and sovereign.We shall love Him, honour Him, trustin Him and appreciate Him morewhen we acknowledge that Hecreated us and loves us so much thatHe humbly came into this world todie for us who are His sinful andrebellious creatures!

God’s Word declares that “All thingswere made by him; and without himwas not any thing made that wasmade” (John 1:3), and “Who is theimage of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: For by himwere all things created, that are inheaven, and that are in earth,visible and invisible, whether theybe thrones, or dominions, orprincipalities, or powers: all thingswere created by him, and for him.And he is before all things, and byhim all things consist” (Col 1:15-17),and “upholding all things by theword of his power, when he had byhimself purged our sins, sat downon the right hand of the Majesty onhigh… And, Thou, Lord, in thebeginning hast laid the foundationof the earth; and the heavens arethe works of thine hands” (Heb 1:3,10).

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus Christ,as God the Son, did perform the workof creation together with God theFather and God the Holy Spirit (Gen1:1-2; Job 33:4; Ps 104:30; Acts17:24). Let us ponder on this truth:All things were created and upheldby Jesus! May the Lord open oureyes so that we may see Hiswonderful work of creationeverywhere and we may give thanksand praise to Him whether we lookat the universe or enjoy thesunshine, the rain, the magnificentscenery, good food and fruits,beautiful flowers, even the life Hehas given to us!

THOUGHT: “... ye believe in God,believe also in me” (John 14:1).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how I thankYou for having created me andsaved me!

22

MONDAY, APRIL 202 CORINTHIANS 13:1-10MATTHEW 28:20

“I am with you alway.”

JESUS IS OMINIPRESENT

As our Lord Jesus Christ is God, Heis omnipresent or ever-presenteverywhere at all times. Sometimes,due to our difficulties, problems, ortrials in life, we may be so worried,troubled and frightened that weforget our Lord’s presence with us.It is so comforting to remember thatour Lord is with us always becauseHis Word says so, and thisconfidence is based on His faithfulWord and not on our feelings.

With much surprise Nathanaelconfessed that Jesus is “the Son ofGod” and “the “King of Israel” whenJesus said to him, “Before thatPhilip called thee, when thou wastunder the fig tree, I saw thee” (John1:48-49). Our Lord is omnipresent!

Our Lord Jesus is now at the righthand of God the Father, makingintercession for us, “It is Christ thatdied, yea rather, that is risen again,who is even at the right hand ofGod, who also maketh intercessionfor us” (Rom 8: 34; cf. Heb 7:25).However, His presence iseverywhere, “For where two orthree are gathered together in myname, there am I in the midst ofthem” (Matt 18:20). Wherever Hischildren gather in His Name, whetherin Africa, America, Asia, Australia orEurope, whether in a churchbuilding, in the jungles, at sea or athome, He is in their midst. It is soamazing! Moreover, Jesus promises,“I am with you alway, even unto theend of the world” (Matt 28:20). Jesususes the verb in the present tense,denoting the truth that at this verymoment He is ever with His childreneverywhere, including you, alway(all days or all the way)! Our LordJesus is even in us, “Jesus Christ isin you” (2 Cor 13:5), and “Christ inyou, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Itis so comforting!

THOUGHT: Jesus is truly theomnipresent God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me livein Your presence always.

23

TUESDAY, APRIL 21REVELATION 2:1-7JOHN 6:64

“Jesus knew

from the beginning.”

JESUS IS OMNISCIENT

As our Lord Jesus Christ is God, Heis not only omnipresent but alsoomniscient or all-knowing. This truthwill help us both trust in Him andfear Him. We shall trust in our Lordmore because our loving and caringSaviour does know us very well,even our weaknesses, our healthcondition, our situations, ourdifficulties, our trials, and all ourneeds. We shall fear our Lord morebecause we cannot hide anythingfrom Him. He does know ourthoughts, our minds, our hearts, ourmotives, our works, our service, etc.Let us hear God’s Word confirmingthis truth:

Jesus foreknew His sufferings, deathand resurrection (Matt 16:21; Mark8:31; Luke 9:22), and “Jesus knewtheir thoughts” (Matt 12:25; cf. Luke6:8), and “he knew all men… heknew what was in man” (John 2:24-25). Jesus knew the Samaritanwoman’s life very well, and she saidto her folks, “Come, see a man,which told me all things that ever Idid: is not this the Christ?” (John4:18,19,29), and “Jesus knew inhimself that his disciples murmuredat it…Jesus knew from thebeginning who they were thatbelieved not, and who shouldbetray him” (John 6:61,64), and“Jesus knew that his hour wascome that he should depart out ofthis world unto the Father… Jesusknowing that the Father had givenall things into his hands, and thathe was come from God, and went toGod” (John 13:1,3). Truly, in JesusChrist “are hid all the treasures ofwisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3).

To the seven churches in Asia Minor(modern Turkey), Jesus says, “Iknow thy works” (Rev 2:2,9,13,19;3:1,8,15). Jesus knows all theirstrengths and weaknesses and Herebukes them for leaving their firstlove toward Him, for theircompromise and tolerance to sinsand wrong doctrines, for theirspiritual death and for theirlukewarmness. How about you andyour church?

THOUGHT: Jesus knows all thingswell.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, “Now are wesure that thou knowest all things”(John 16:30).

24

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ACTS 10:34-43HEBREWS 7:25

“He is able also to save.”

JESUS IS OMNIPOTENT

It is vital for us to know and trustthat our Lord Jesus Christ is theomnipotent God, the Almighty God,because it is true that He is able todo all things well according to Hisholy will and good pleasure, andnothing is too hard for Him orimpossible with Him, “Behold, I amthe LORD, the God of all flesh: isthere any thing too hard for me?”(Jer 32:27; cf. Matt 19:26).

- Jesus is the Creator, who haspower to create all things anduphold all things (John 1:3; Col1:15-17; Heb 1:3).

- Jesus was anointed “with theHoly Ghost and with power”(Acts 10:38).

- Jesus was “mighty in deed andword before God and all thepeople” (Luke 24:19)

- Jesus has power over Satan anddemons and He cast them outwith His Word (Matt 8:16; Mark1:39).

- Jesus has power over Nature,turning water into wine, calmingthe storm, “walking on the sea”(John 2:7-9; Matt 8:26-27; 14:25).

- Jesus has power over sickness,healing the sick, the blind, thelame, the deaf, etc. (Matt 8:16;11:5).

- Jesus has power over death,raising Jairus’ daughter, a youngman in Nain, and Lazarus (Mark5:22, 41,42; Luke 7:14-15; John11: 43-44).

- Jesus’ resurrection proves Himto be the Son of God with power(Rom 1:4)

- Jesus “hath power on earth toforgive sins” (Matt 9:6; Mark2:10).

- Jesus has been given “authorityto execute judgment” (John5:27).

- Jesus “is able also to save” usperfectly (Heb 7:25).

- Jesus “is able to keep” what wehave committed unto Him (2 Tim1:12) and keep us safe in Hismighty hand (John 10:28).

- “All power is given unto” ourLord Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18).

THOUGHT: Jesus is truly theAlmighty God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me trustin Your omnipotence.

25

THURSDAY, APRIL 23REVELATION 6:1-16ACTS 10:36

“He is Lord of all.”

JESUS IS SOVEREIGN

We believe that God the Father issovereign or in control over all, “Arenot two sparrows sold for afarthing? and one of them shall notfall on the ground without yourFather. But the very hairs of yourhead are all numbered” (Matt 10:29-30), and “No man can come to me,except the Father which hath sentme draw him” (John 6:44, cf. 65).However, when we know andbelieve that Jesus is the living andtrue God, omnipresent, omniscientand omnipotent, we must alsobelieve that He is sovereign as Godthe Father is.

As Jesus Christ is “Lord of all”(Acts 10:36), and “King of kings andLord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14;19:16), He is in control over all asHis Father is. Only our Lord JesusChrist is worthy “to open the book,and to loose the seven sealsthereof” (Rev 5:4-5). When Heopens one of the seals, a great eventtakes place (Rev 6:1,3,5,7,9), and thisis one of the great events in the lastdays, “And I beheld when he hadopened the sixth seal, and, lo, therewas a great earthquake; …And thestars of heaven fell unto the earth,… And the heaven departed as ascroll when it is rolled together; …And the kings of the earth, and thegreat men, and the rich men, andthe chief captains, and the mightymen, and every bondman, and everyfree man, hid themselves in the densand in the rocks of the mountains;And said to the mountains androcks, Fall on us, and hide us fromthe face of him that sitteth on thethrone, and from the wrath of theLamb” (Rev 6:12-16).

Knowing that our Good Shepherdis sovereign and is with us, in us,and for us, we shall fear no evil (Ps23:4). Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: Our Lord Jesus Christis sovereign.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I praise Youfor You are in control of all things.

26

FRIDAY, APRIL 24MATTHEW 1:18-251 TIMOHY 3:16

“God was manifest in the flesh.”

JESUS IS THE PERFECTGOD-MAN

Knowing and believing that Jesusis a perfect Man is as important asknowing and believing that Jesus isGod. Why? Only a perfect andsinless Man could die for sinnersand only a perfect God-Man can bea Mediator between God and man (1Tim 2:5). Therefore, “Hereby knowye the Spirit of God: Every spiritthat confesseth that Jesus Christ iscome in the flesh is of God: Andevery spirit that confesseth not thatJesus Christ is come in the flesh isnot of God: and this is that spirit ofantichrist” (1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7).

Right after the Fall of Adam and Eve,God promised His salvation throughthe seed of a woman, saying toSatan, “And I will put enmitybetween thee and the woman, andbetween thy seed and her seed; itshall bruise thy head, and thoushalt bruise his heel” (Gen 3:15).This promise was confirmed by theprophet Isaiah (c.700 BC),“Therefore the Lord himself shallgive you a sign; Behold, a virginshall conceive, and bear a son, andshall call his name Immanuel” (Isa7:14), and this was fulfilled in theLord Jesus Christ, who humbledHimself to become man, conceivedby the Holy Spirit and born of thevirgin Mary, “that which isconceived in her is of the HolyGhost. And she shall bring forth ason, and thou shalt call his nameJESUS: for he shall save his peoplefrom their sins. Now all this wasdone, that it might be fulfilled whichwas spoken of the Lord by theprophet, saying, Behold, a virginshall be with child, and shall bringforth a son, and they shall call hisname Immanuel, which beinginterpreted is, God with us” (Matt1:20-23).

Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man.

THOUGHT: Jesus is the perfectGod-Man in one Person.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forhumbly becoming a Man to die formy sins.

27

SATURDAY, APRIL 25ACT 2:22-36ACTS 7:56

“The Son of man standing

on the right hand of God.”

JESUS IS THE SON OF

MAN

The name “the Son of man”referring to our Lord Jesus Christhas at least 87 occurrences in theNew Testament, in which 84occurrences are from the mouth ofour Lord Jesus Christ, humblyconfirming His real humanity. Beforebeing martyred, Stephen was full ofthe Holy Spirit, “looked upstedfastly into heaven, and saw theglory of God, and Jesus standingon the right hand of God” and hetestified, “Behold, I see the heavensopened, and the Son of manstanding on the right hand of God”(Acts 7:55-56). John also gave asimilar testimony (Rev 1:13; 14:14).

The Holy Scriptures testify thatJesus Christ is a real Man: “the Wordwas made flesh” (John 1:14), and“God was manifest in the flesh” (1Tim 3:16), and “Ye men of Israel,hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth,a man approved of God among youby miracles and wonders and signs,which God did by him in the midstof you, as ye yourselves also know…Be it known unto you therefore, menand brethren, that through this manis preached unto you theforgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:22;13:38), and “much more the graceof God, and the gift by grace, whichis by one man, Jesus Christ, hathabounded unto many” (Rom 5:15)and “The first man is of the earth,earthy: the second man is the Lordfrom heaven” (1 Cor 15:47), and “Forthere is one God, and one mediatorbetween God and men, the manChrist Jesus;” (1 Tim 2:5), and “Butthis man, after he had offered onesacrifice for sins for ever, sat downon the right hand of God” (Heb10:12; cf. 7:24).

Jesus Christ became a Man and died

for mankind.

THOUGHT: “And being found infashion as a man, he humbledhimself, and became obedient untodeath” (Phil 2:8).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forYour humble sacrifice for me.

28

LORD’S DAY, APRIL 26ROMANS 5:1-11HEBREWS 7:26

“Who is holy, harmless,

undefiled, separate from sinners.”

JESUS IS A PERFECT MAN

Jesus Christ must be a perfect Manto die for the sins of mankind,including yours and mine. He has ahuman soul, human will and humanbody with flesh, blood and boneslike us. Jesus said, “My soul isexceeding sorrowful” (Matt 26:38;cf. John 12:27), and prayed to HisFather, “not my will, but thine, bedone… Father, into thy hands Icommend my spirit” (Luke 22:42;23:46), and “Behold my hands andmy feet, that it is I myself: handleme, and see; for a spirit hath notflesh and bones, as ye see me have”(Luke 24:39).

With His real human body, Jesus washungry, wearied, and thirsty. He alsoate, drank, worked, walked, rested,slept, wept, and died and was buriedand risen again (Matt 4:2; 26:26-29;Mark 6:31; Luke 8:23; 24:39,46; John4:6,7; 5:17; 7:1; 11:35; 19:30,33,40).However, being born of the virginMary, Jesus did not inherit the sinfulnature from Adam; and while livingon earth, Jesus submitted His will toHis Father’s will and kept the law tothe jot and tittle despite thetemptations from Satan (activeobedience, Matt 4:1-11) and all thecontempt, blasphemy, hatred,opposition, persecutions, sufferingseven the cruel and shameful deathon the cross (passive obedience, Isa53; Matt 26; John 19). Truly, “Andbeing found in fashion as a man, hehumbled himself, and becameobedient unto death, even the deathof the cross” (Phil 2:8), and “For wehave not an high priest whichcannot be touched with the feelingof our infirmities; but was in allpoints tempted like as we are, yetwithout sin” (Heb 4:15).

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life forour righteousness, died for our sins,and rose again for our justification(Rom 4:25; 5:8-10). Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: Jesus’ active andpassive obedience is for mysalvation.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forYour sacrificial life and death for me.

29

MONDAY, APRIL 27HEBREWS 7:19-281 TIMOTHY 2:5 “One Mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus.”

JESUS ALONE IS THEMEDIATOR

Many believe that they canapproach the Holy God throughtheir meditation or mysticism. Othersbelieve that they can draw near toGod through their religious leaders’teaching and training. Othersbelieve in Jesus Christ but that inorder to draw near to God they needa priest, a bishop, or even the VirginMary! What then is the truth? Howcan we not be deceived? Thank Godfor having preserved His inspiredwords for us to learn and to follow.Let us wisely hear God’s Word aloneand shut our ears to human wordsor strange voices from Satan. Jesussays, “My sheep hear my voice, andI know them, and they follow me”(John 10:27).

There must be a perfect God-Manto be the mediator between God andman. We must realise that no humanbeing with our sinful nature is ableto be our mediator. Only our LordJesus Christ alone, who is God butwho humbled Himself to become aMan, lived a righteous life beforeGod, died for the sins of mankind,and rose again, the perfect God-Man, is able to be the only oneMediator between God and man.Our Lord Jesus says, “I am the way,the truth, and the life: no mancometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6), and God’s Wordconfirms, “For there is one God, andone mediator between God andmen, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim2:5). “Neither is there salvation inany other: for there is none othername under heaven given amongmen, whereby we must be saved”(Acts 4:12). “Wherefore he is ablealso to save them to the uttermostthat come unto God by him, seeinghe ever liveth to make intercessionfor them” (Heb 7:25).

THOUGHT: We can approach Godthrough Jesus Christ alone.PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, I thankYou for being my Mediator.

30

TUESDAY, APRIL 28REVELATION 20:11-15JOHN 5:22

“For the Father…hath committed,

all judgment unto the Son.”

JESUS IS THE JUDGE

Many are living in this world withoutany care for their souls. They aredeceiving themselves by ignoringtheir immortal souls and thinking thatdeath is the end and that there isneither judgment nor hell. Therefore,they just enjoy life and think, believeor do whatever they like.

How about us? Let us wisely hearGod’s Word alone and “prepare tomeet thy God” (Amos 4:12). God’sWord confirms that there will be aJudgment Day, and that no one canescape God’s judgment, and thatJesus Christ is the Judge: “And asit is appointed unto men once todie, but after this the judgment”(Heb 9:27). “And I saw a great whitethrone, and him that sat on it… theywere judged every man accordingto their works” (Rev 20:11-13). “Forthe Father judgeth no man, but hathcommitted all judgment unto theSon… And hath given him authorityto execute judgment also, becausehe is the Son of man” (John 5:22,27).“When the Son of man shall comein his glory, and all the holy angelswith him, then shall he sit upon thethrone of his glory: And before himshall be gathered all nations: andhe shall separate them one fromanother, as a shepherd divideth hissheep from the goats” (Matt 25:31-32).

Although we as God’s children willnot be judged before the Great WhiteThrone, we shall appear before theJudgment Seat of Christ to receiveHis reward or rebuke, “For we mustall appear before the judgment seatof Christ; that every one may receivethe things done in his body,according to that he hath done,whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor5:10).

Many still despise and reject theSaviour Jesus Christ. How will theystand before Him on the JudgmentDay?

THOUGHT: Everyone will bejudged by Jesus Christ some day.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me tohonour You and to hide myself inYou.

31

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29JOHN 4:39-42JOHN 4:42

“This is indeed the Christ,

the Saviour of the world.”

JESUS ALONE IS THESAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

Coming back to our theme, “Butgrow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), we havelearned from God’s Word aboutJesus as our LORD, our God, ourperfect God-Man, our Mediator andour Judge, let us learn more aboutJesus as our Saviour.

The name Jesus is a short form ofJoshua or Jehoshua, which means,“Jehovah is salvation.” Jesusmeans Saviour. His incarnation, Hisvirgin birth, His death for our sins,and His resurrection for ourjustification secure our salvation forever. The angel of the Lordannounced to Joseph, “And sheshall bring forth a son, and thoushalt call his name JESUS: for heshall save his people from theirsins” (Matt 1:21) and to theshepherds, “Fear not: for, behold,I bring you good tidings of greatjoy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in thecity of David a Saviour, which isChrist the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). TheSamaritans, after meeting Jesus andhearing His Word themselves,testified to the woman, “Now webelieve, not because of thy saying:for we have heard him ourselves,and know that this is indeed theChrist, the Saviour of the world”(John 4:42). How about you?

Dear friends, you must personallyknow and believe that Jesus aloneis your Saviour. God’s Wordconfirms, “Neither is theresalvation in any other: for there isnone other name under heavengiven among men, whereby we mustbe saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is ableto save us not only from our sins,from His wrath and condemnation(Rom 5:9, 8:1), but also from thebondage of our sinful nature (Rom7:24-25). Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: “Christ Jesus cameinto the world to save sinners; ofwhom I am chief” (1 Tim 1:15).PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, Ibelieve and receive You as mySaviour.

32

THURSDAY, APRIL 30ACTS 16:25-34ROMANS 10:13

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

YOU DO NEED THESAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

Many people live without realisingthat they do need a Saviour. Howabout you? To you this may be astrange question, but truly you andI do need a Saviour. Why?

First, we are sinners before God.God’s Word says, “For all havesinned, and come short of the gloryof God” (Rom 3:23). God is holy andall-knowing and He condemns sineven in our hearts, minds, thoughts,and motives. Rejecting the SaviourJesus Christ, telling lies, embracingsinful thoughts, lusts, hatred, andso forth are all sins before God.God’s Word says, “If we say thatwe have no sin, we deceiveourselves, and the truth is not inus” (1 John 1:8).

Next, all sinners will be judged andbe condemned to hell. God’s Wordsays, “But the fearful, andunbelieving, and the abominable,and murderers, and whoremongers,and sorcerers, and idolaters, andall liars, shall have their part in thelake which burneth with fire andbrimstone: which is the seconddeath” (Rev 21:8).

However, there is good news formankind. God does love you andwants you to be saved. God’s Wordsays, “For God so loved the world,that He gave His only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in Himshould not perish, but haveeverlasting life” (John 3:16).

How can we be saved? The only wayto be saved is to realise that youhave sinned against God, to confessyour sins to the Lord in prayer andto receive the Lord Jesus Christ asyour personal Lord and Saviour.God’s Word says, “If we confess oursins, He is faithful and just to forgiveus our sins, and to cleanse us fromall unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

THOUGHT: “Believe on the LordJesus Christ, and thou shalt besaved, and thy house” (Acts 16: 31).PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, I doneed You to save me for ever.

33

FRIDAY, MAY 1COLOSSIANS 1:9-17PSALM 19:14

“O LORD, my strength,

and my redeemer.”

JESUS ALONE IS OURREDEEMER

We must thank God for His greatestGift, His only begotten Son, Who isAll we need. We are sinners, weneed to be saved. Jesus Christ isour Saviour and our Salvation. Weneed to approach the holy God.Jesus Christ is our Mediator. Weneed to be redeemed from all our sins.Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and ourRedemption.

The verb “redeem” in Greek (lutróô)has three occurrences in the NT(Luke 24:21; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18).To “redeem” means “ to release bypayment of a ransom.” The noun“redemption” in Greek (apolútrôsis)has 10 occurrences, and istranslated “redemption” (9 times)and “deliverance” (1 time), denoting“the deliverance from the power andconsequences of sin which Christprocured by laying down His life asa ransom” (Zodhiates).

The holy God cannot ignore sins,so Jesus Christ had to pay the costof releasing the bondage of our sinsby His blood-shedding death on thecross, bearing all our sins:“Forasmuch as ye know that yewere not redeemed with corruptiblethings, as silver and gold, from yourvain conversation received bytradition from your fathers; Butwith the precious blood of Christ,as of a lamb without blemish andwithout spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19), and“Who gave himself for us, that hemight redeem us from all iniquity,and purify unto himself a peculiarpeople, zealous of good works”(Titus 2:14). Only in Jesus Christ“we have redemption through hisblood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph1:7; Col 1:14).

When we receive Jesus Christ as ourRedeemer, we must understand thatwe have been bought by Himalready, “For ye are bought with aprice: therefore glorify God in yourbody, and in your spirit, which areGod’s.” (1 Cor 6:20).

THOUGHT: My life belongs toJesus Christ, my Redeemer.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forhaving redeemed me by Your blood.

34

SATURDAY, MAY 2MATTHEW 16: 13-201 JOHN 5:1

“Jesus is the Christ.”

JESUS IS THE CHRIST

When the Samaritan woman met theLord Jesus Christ (John 4), she wasimpressed by our Lord’s kindnessand gentleness because He did notdespise her or discriminate againsther like other Jews. Talking with ourLord and being surprised at Hisomniscience, she said to Him, “Sir, Iperceive that thou art a prophet”(v 19). Then, after hearing our Lordtalk about true worship in spirit andin truth, she said to Him, “I knowthat Messiah cometh, which iscalled Christ: when he is come, hewill tell us all things” (v 25). AndJesus said to her, “I that speak untothee am he” (v 26). Knowing thatJesus was the Christ, she left herwater pot, went her way into her cityand said to her people, “Come, seea man, which told me all things thatever I did: is not this the Christ?”(v 29).

Then Jesus stayed with them for twodays upon their request. On hearingJesus’ Word in person, they said tothe woman, “Now we believe, notbecause of thy saying: for we haveheard him ourselves, and know thatthis is indeed the Christ, the Saviourof the world” (v 42). Sadly, manymodern English versions, like theNIV, omit “the Christ” in this verse,undermining the Deity of our LordJesus Christ. They omit “Christ” inover 30 verses, e.g. “But be not yecalled Rabbi: for one is your Master,even Christ; and all ye arebrethren” (Matt 23:8); “For I am notashamed of the gospel of Christ: forit is the power of God unto salvationto every one that believeth” (Rom1:16); “I can do all things throughChrist (him) which strengthenethme” (Phil 4:13), etc. This is seriousas it promotes the ecumenicalmindset. Unbelievers may quotethese verses while thinking of theirreligious leaders and not of JesusChrist!

THOUGHT: “Thou art the Christ,the Son of the living God” (Matt16:16).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe thatYou are the Christ.

35

LORD’S DAY, MAY 3JOHN 6:60-71ACTS 10:38

“God anointed

Jesus of Nazareth.”

DO YOU BELIEVE THATJESUS IS THE CHRIST?

It is vital to know and believe thatJesus is the Christ. “Whosoeverbelieveth that Jesus is the Christ isborn of God” (1 John 5:1). Christ (orMessiah) means the Anointed One,“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is uponme; because the LORD hathanointed me…” (Isa 61:1-2). Thisprophecy was fulfilled in JesusChrist, who read this Scripture textand said, “This day is this scripturefulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:18-19, 21). God’s Word also confirms,“How God anointed Jesus ofNazareth with the Holy Ghost andwith power: who went about doinggood, and healing all that wereoppressed of the devil; for God waswith him” (Acts 10:38).

There are three anointed offices: thepriestly, the kingly and theprophetic, e.g. the high priest Aaronand his sons (Exod 28:41; Lev 8:12),Kings Saul, David and Solomon (1Sam 10:1; 16:13; 1 Kings 1:39), andthe prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16),etc. Jesus is the Christ, who hasbeen anointed to be the Great HighPriest, the King of kings, and theGreat Prophet.

When Peter confessed to Jesus,“Thou art the Christ, the Son of theliving God,” Jesus said, “Blessedart thou, Simon Barjona: for fleshand blood hath not revealed it untothee, but my Father which is inheaven” (Matt 16:15-17). Thisshows that we do need divinerevelation to know that Jesus is theChrist, and we do need to be bornagain to believe this truth with ourfull submission (1 John 5:1).

Dear friends, when you confess thatJesus is the Christ, you must mean(with your saving faith and fullsubmission) that He is your Saviouras your Great High Priest, your Kingof kings, and your Great Prophet.

THOUGHT: “And we believe andare sure that thou art that Christ,the Son of the living God” (John6:69).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe thatYou are the Christ of God.

36

MONDAY, MAY 4HEBREWS 10:19-27HEBREWS 4:14

“A great high priest, …

Jesus the Son of God.”

JESUS IS THE GREAT HIGHPRIEST

A human high priest was anointedto represent the people before GodHimself. He held a leadershipposition in the religious life of thepeople. He alone wore the Urim andthe Thummim, and Israel came tohim to learn the will of God (Num27:21). He bore the names of thechildren of Israel on his breastplate(Exod 28:29). He offered a sin offeringfor his own sins and the sins of thecongregation (Lev. 4:3–21; 9:7). Heburnt incense every morning and litthe lamps in the evening and burntincense upon it (Exod 30:7-8). Helifted his hand toward the people andblessed them (Lev 9:22), etc. Mostimportantly, once a year, on the Dayof Atonement, he alone entered intothe Holy of Holies behind the veilbefore God, always bringing withhim the blood of the sacrifice andsprinkling it on the mercy seat tomake atonement for himself and forthe people for all the sins they hadcommitted (Lev 16).

No one was allowed to enter theHoly of Holies (the Holiest) behindthe veil, except the high priest oncea year with the blood of the sacrifice.When our Lord Jesus yielded up Hisspirit on the cross, “the veil of thetemple was rent in twain from thetop to the bottom” (Matt 27:51; Mark15:38; Luke 23:45). It is an act of God,opening a way for us to enter intoHis holy presence through JesusChrist our Great High Priest andthrough His blood. “Havingtherefore, brethren, boldness toenter into the holiest by the bloodof Jesus, By a new and living way,which he hath consecrated for us,through the veil, that is to say, hisflesh” (Heb 10:19-20). Praise theLord!

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ is my GreatHigh Priest.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, foropening a living way for me to comeinto Your holy presence throughJesus’ Blood.

37

TUESDAY, MAY 5HEBREWS 4:12-16HEBREWS 2:17

“a merciful and

faithful high priest.”

IS JESUS CHRIST YOURGREAT HIGH PRIEST?

The human high priests were weakand mortal and had to offer a sinoffering for himself and for thepeople daily and yearly (Heb 7:27;9:7, 25). But our Lord Jesus Christ isour “great high priest” (Heb 4:14)who is “for ever after the order ofMelchisedec,” the Priest-King (Heb5:6-10; 7:1), “holy, harmless,undefiled, separate from sinners”(Heb 7:26), who sacrificed Himselfand offered His own blood once forall to put away sin (Heb 7:27; 9:14,26), and “he continueth ever, hathan unchangeable priesthood” (Heb7:24) and “is set on the right handof the throne of the Majesty in theheavens” (Heb 8:1).

Many trust in their good works todraw near to God with their offeringslike Cain but they will surely berejected by the Holy God (Gen 4:5).Many others dare not approachGod’s holy presence because of theirsins. How about us? We do needthe Lord Jesus Christ, our Great HighPriest, our perfect Representativebefore God, “now to appear in thepresence of God for us” (Heb 9:24)and “he is able also to save them tothe uttermost that come unto Godby him, seeing he ever liveth to makeintercession for them” (Heb 7:25).

In Jesus, our spiritual sacrifices,even ourselves and our prayers, are“acceptable to God” (1 Peter 2:5;Eph 1:6). We do need His blood tokeep on cleansing us from all oursins so that we can come into God’spresence, maintain our fellowshipwith Him (1 John 1:7) and overcomeSatan’s accusation (Rev 12:11).

As our Great High Priest can “betouched with the feeling of ourinfirmities,” let us therefore “comeboldly unto the throne of grace, thatwe may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help in time of need” (Heb4:15-16).

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ is myperfect Representative before God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, I needYou and Your blood every time Icome into God’s holy presence.

38

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6LUKE 24:35-46ISAIAH 53:3

“He is despised and

rejected.”

JESUS IS THE REJECTEDKING

Looking forward to a Messiah to betheir “Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6) and“King” (Zech 9:9), coming to deliverthem from the bondage of the RomanEmpire and to restore their nationIsrael (Luke 24:21), the Jews did notexpect their Messiah to beshamefully despised and crucifiedon the cross, so they rejected Jesusas their Messiah (Isa 53; John 1:11).

Our Lord Jesus, the King, wasrejected since He was born. Whilethe wise men from the east came toJerusalem, seeking to worship thenewborn King, asking, “Where is hethat is born King of the Jews?” (Matt2:2), Herod was troubled (v 3).Knowing that Christ would be bornin Bethlehem, he killed “all thechildren that were in Bethlehem,and in all the coasts thereof, fromtwo years old and under” (v 16).Herod only wanted himself to beking! Nowadays many only wantthemselves to be king, thus rejectingthe Lord Jesus Christ.

Pilate asked the Jews, “Will yetherefore that I release unto you theKing of the Jews?” They cried, “Notthis man, but Barabbas” who was arobber (John 18:40), and “We haveno king but Caesar” (John 19:15).Today, many reject Jesus Christ andchoose another to be their King!

Being crucified on the cross, with“a superscription also was writtenover him in letters of Greek, andLatin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THEKING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38),our Lord Jesus was mocked by thereligious leaders and others, “LetChrist the King of Israel descendnow from the cross, that we may seeand believe” (Mark 15:32). Evenone of the thieves said to Jesus, “Ifthou be Christ, save thyself and us”(Luke 23:39). Nowadays, many stillchallenge and mock the kingship ofthe Lord Jesus Christ!

THOUGHT: “Lord, remember mewhen thou comest into thykingdom” (Luke 23:42).PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, openmy eyes so that I may see, appreciate,and exalt You as my King.

39

THURSDAY, MAY 7ACTS 5:29-32REVELATION 19:16

“KING OF KINGS,

AND LORD OF LORDS.”

IS JESUS YOUR KING OFKINGS?

Many reject Jesus Christ as King.How about you? Is He really yourKing?

Jesus is the Christ, the anointedKing, who humbly came to die forsinners, but He rose again, and Godhas “exalted” Him “with his righthand to be a Prince and a Saviour”(Acts 5:31) and says, “Thy throne,O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptreof righteousness is the sceptre of thykingdom” (Heb 1:8). How about us?Shall we also “exalt” the Lord Jesusto be the King of our hearts and ourlives? Does He have full authorityand full control over our lives? If westill decide to do whatever we likeaccording to our own will regardlessof His will, He is not truly our King.If we still say, read, watch, listen to,write, or do whatever we like or gowherever we like regardless of Hisguidance and His Word, He is notour King. Many still despise,challenge, mock and reject thekingship of the Lord Jesus Christ,and even arrogantly question,criticise, misinterpret and twist HisWord, but when He comes againwith all His might and glory as “Kingof kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev19:16), they cannot stand before Himto hear His sentence, “But thosemine enemies, which would not thatI should reign over them, bringhither, and slay them before me”(Luke 19:27).

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus Christis also the King of heaven and earthand universe, and we can trust inHis sovereignty as He is able tomake all things work together forgood unto us when we love Him andsubmit to Him as our King (Rom

8:28).

THOUGHT: God has exalted JesusChrist to be the King of kings.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I want to exaltYou to be the King of my heart andmy life.

40

FRIDAY, MAY 8JOHN 12:44-50LUKE 7:16

“A great Prophet

is risen up among us.”

JESUS IS THE GREATPROPHET

A prophet is God’s spokesman andrepresentative to His people. Hisministry is to speak exactly God’sWord to the people as well as toproperly foretell, warn, rebuke, teach,and preach according to God’sWord. God promised Moses, “I willraise them up a Prophet from amongtheir brethren, like unto thee, andwill put my words in his mouth; andhe shall speak unto them all that Ishall command him. And it shallcome to pass, that whosoever willnot hearken unto my words whichhe shall speak in my name, I willrequire it of him” (Deut 18:18-19).And this promise has been fulfilledin our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22-23; 7:37), who is God’s Spokesmanand Representative to us.

Truly God has “spoken unto us byhis Son” (Heb 1:2). Our Lord Jesussays, “He that rejecteth me, andreceiveth not my words, hath onethat judgeth him: the word that Ihave spoken, the same shall judgehim in the last day. For I have notspoken of myself; but the Fatherwhich sent me, he gave me acommandment, what I should say,and what I should speak. And I knowthat his commandment is lifeeverlasting: whatsoever I speaktherefore, even as the Father saidunto me, so I speak” (John 12:48-50). Therefore, Jesus’ words areGod’s words and therefore thetruths (John 17:8, 14, 17) and “shallnot pass away” (Matt 24:35; Mark13:31; Luke 21:33). It is thusdangerous to arrogantly attack,question, criticize, twist,misinterpret, mistranslate, modify orcast doubt on God’s Word as manypeople do, even “scholars,” to servetheir own worldly purpose andselfish ambitions. This will be theirtragic end, “And it shall come topass, that every soul, which will nothear that Prophet, shall bedestroyed from among the people”(Acts 3:23).

THOUGHT: We would rather hearand obey Jesus Christ than man.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me tosubmit to You and Your Wordalways.

41

SATURDAY, MAY 9PSALM 12:1-8MATTHEW 5:18

“One jot or one tittle

shall in no wise pass.”

JESUS BELIEVES IN GOD’SPRESERVED WORD

In the days of our Lord Jesus, therewere no original manuscripts of theOld Testament in Hebrew(autographs) but only copies(apographs), but our Lord Jesus, theall-knowing God, neither doubtedGod’s Word, nor criticized, norquestioned God’s Word, nor sawany discrepancies like many modern“scholars” do today. He did notdoubt the global flood in Noah’sdays, “until the flood came, andtook them all away” (Matt 24:39) orJonah in the whale’s belly for threedays (Matt 12:40), etc. Our Lord usesthe perfect tense in passive, “It iswritten” (Matt 4:4,7,10), whichmeans “It has been written andremains written” or “It standswritten and is still in force” when Hequoted the Scriptures to confirm thatGod’s Word is always living,powerful and unchangeablethroughout the ages. He confirmedthe perfect preservation of theScriptures, “For verily I say untoyou, Till heaven and earth pass, onejot or one tittle shall in no wise passfrom the law, till all be fulfilled”(Matt 5:18). One jot is the smallestletter in the Hebrew alphabet, andone tittle is a small extension like asmall dash of a letter and it maytotally change the meaning of aword. For example, in English theword “lame” is totally different fromthe word “tame” because of thetittle. God is unchangeable andunable to make any mistake, so HisWord is unchangeable without anymistakes.

Dear friends, do you believe in God’sperfectly preserved Word just as ourLord Jesus does? That is the Hebrewand Greek texts that underlie theKing James Bible, which is the mostfaithful, trustworthy and correcttranslation in English. We can safelyand wisely build our saving faith andsaving knowledge on this perfectfoundation no matter what others,even “scholars,” may say.

THOUGHT: “Thy word is truth”(John 17:17).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forencouraging me to believe in God’sperfectly preserved Word.

42

LORD’S DAY, MAY 10LUKE 24:25-35LUKE 24:27

“He expounded unto

them in all the scriptures.”

JESUS KNOWS GOD’SWORD THOROUGHLY

Our Lord Jesus not only believesbut also knows all the Scripturesthoroughly, and expounded(explained clearly and exactly) God’sWord to His disciples. “Andbeginning at Moses and all theprophets, he expounded unto themin all the scriptures the thingsconcerning himself… And he saidunto them, These are the wordswhich I spake unto you, while I wasyet with you, that all things must befulfilled, which were written in thelaw of Moses, and in the prophets,and in the psalms, concerning me”(Luke 24: 27, 44). The commonJewish division of the Hebrew OT isthe Law, the Prophets and the HolyWritings. The Law comprises thefive books of Moses. The Prophetshas two parts. The former prophetscomprise Joshua, Judges, two booksof Samuel, two books of Kings. Andthe latter prophets comprise thebooks from Isaiah to Malachi exceptthe books of Daniel andLamentations. The Holy Writingscomprise Psalms, Proverbs, Job,Song of Solomon, Ruth,Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther,Daniel and two books of Chronicles.The first book of the Hebrew OT isGenesis and the last is SecondChronicles. Our Lord knows all thesebooks well. When rebuking theJewish leaders, “That upon you maycome all the righteous blood shedupon the earth, from the blood ofrighteous Abel (Gen 4:8) unto theblood of Zacharias son ofBarachias (2 Chron 24:20-22), whomye slew between the temple and thealtar” (Matt 23:35), our Lord refersto the whole Hebrew OT, fromGenesis to Second Chronicles.

Our Lord Jesus expounded to Hisdisciples “in all the scriptures thethings concerning himself” (Luke24:27). May the Lord help us tostudy and know His Word well andsee Him in all the Scriptures.

THOUGHT: “Study to shew thyselfapproved unto God,...rightlydividing the word of truth” (2 Tim2:15).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me growin the knowledge of Your Word andYourself.

43

MONDAY, MAY 11MATTHEW 4:1-11LUKE 4:4

“Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word of God.”

JESUS LIVES BY EVERYWORD OF GOD

When our Lord Jesus was hungryafter fasting for forty days and fortynights in the wilderness, Satan cameto Him, challenging His eternalSonship and tempting Him to turnstones into bread (Matt 4:1-3). OurLord is truly the Son of God and isable to turn stones into bread, butHe did not obey Satan nor did hiswill despite His hunger. Our LordJesus could overcome Satan’stemptation because He lives by“every word” of God and submitsHimself to God’s Word and God’swill, even unto death (Phil 2:8). Hesaid, “It is written, Man shall notlive by bread alone, but by everyword that proceedeth out of themouth of God” (Matt 4:4).

Adam and Eve succumbed toSatan’s temptation as they failed toresist him and live by “every word”of God although they were enjoyingall the good things from God,without thirst or hunger! Nowadays,many blame poverty for crimes,saying that if they were wealthy andhad everything they needed, thesociety would be good and withoutcrimes. They naively fail to see thesinful, deceitful and wicked heart ofhuman beings after the Fall of Adamand Eve (Jer 17:9)!

Many are very “open-minded” or“simple-minded,” not caring about“every word” of God, saying thatsound doctrines are enough and thatthey do not want to argue about“words”! Are they better or smarterthan our Lord Jesus Christ, who livesby “every word” of God? How canthey have sound doctrines withoutevery sound word of God? Nowonder they easily fall into the trapof Satan and cannot overcometemptations, their sinful nature andworldliness. It is worse for those whocriticise and attack God’s Word!

THOUGHT: I must live by everyword of God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forencouraging me to live by Your everyword.

44

TUESDAY, MAY 121 PETER 1:22-251 PETER 2:2

“Desire the sincere

milk of the word.”

DO YOU LIVE BY EVERYWORD OF GOD?

Many assume that they are livingby God’s Word when they readGod’s Word every day with severalEnglish Bibles and severalcommentaries! What does it meanto live by “every word” of God? Itmeans we are to read, study,meditate, expound, and digest“every word” of God with aprayerful, teachable, faithful andsubmissive heart. It means when weread the Scripture, we pray, “Speak,LORD; for thy servant heareth” (1Sam 3:9) with trust, reverence andtrembling, “but to this man will Ilook, even to him that is poor andof a contrite spirit, and tremblethat my word” (Isa 66:2). Every wordof God is the pure milk for ourspiritual growth, “As newbornbabes, desire the sincere milk of theword, that ye may grow thereby”(1 Peter 2:2). Then we are to receive,depend on and submit to every pureword of God without any addition,subtraction, or modification. Wemust be careful about what is notthe pure word of God if it is basedon the corrupt texts or twisted byhuman thoughts, ideas, mindset,philosophies, dynamic translation ortextual criticism.

Many say, “I like that pastor. Hispreaching is very powerful. Heshares so many interesting storiesand experiences. He quotes manyprofound sayings from great men,etc.” But they fail to examinethemselves and ask, “What is Godsaying to me today through HisWord?” If they are fed with the junkfood of stories, experiences, andhuman words, their souls will not bestrengthened to overcome theirsinful nature, temptations andworldliness.

Dear friends, let us not be deceived.Only God’s Word is able toregenerate us and sanctify us,“Being born again…by the wordof God, which liveth and abidethfor ever” and “Sanctify themthrough thy truth: thy word is truth”(1 Peter 1:23; John 17:17).

THOUGHT: Only God’s Word is ourspiritual food.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me liveby Your pure Word daily.

45

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13MATTHEW 22:23-33EPHESSIAN 6:17

“The sword of the Spirit.”

JESUS EFFECTIVELY USESGOD’S WORD

Our Lord Jesus perfectly believed,knew, lived by God’s Word and usedit effectively in His teaching,preaching and fight against Satanand His enemies. He quoted God’sWord to resist and defeat Satan andhis temptations, “It is written, Manshall not live by bread alone, butby every word that proceedeth outof the mouth of God… Thou shaltnot tempt the Lord thy God… Thoushalt worship the Lord thy God, andhim only shalt thou serve” (Matt 4:4,7, 10). He reminded the people aboutNoah, Lot, and Lot’s wife to warnthem to be prepared for His return(Matt 24:38-39; Luke 17:28-32). Hespoke about David and his meneating the shewbread on theSabbath in answer to those whoaccused His disciples of plucking theears of corn to eat on the Sabbath(Matt 12:1-4). He quoted God’s Word,“For this cause shall a man leavefather and mother, and shall cleaveto his wife: and they twain shall beone flesh?” in answer to those whowanted to get a divorce easily (Matt19:5). He quoted God’s saying, “Iam the God of Abraham, and theGod of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?God is not the God of the dead, butof the living” to refute theSadducees, who did not believe inthe resurrection (Matt 22:23, 32).

Dear friends, if we do not believe,know, live by God’s Word and use iteffectively, we shall be defeated bySatan and our enemies. The more weknow God’s Word with faith,reverence and submission, the moreeffectively we may use the Sword ofthe Holy Spirit, who reminds us andhelps us to use the right verse at theright time, “For the Holy Ghost shallteach you in the same hour what yeought to say” (Luke 12:12).

THOUGHT: God’s Word is theSword of the Holy Spirit.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me knowand use Your Word effectively.

46

THURSDAY, MAY 14JOHN 1:1-9JOHN 8:12

“I am the

Light of the World.”

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OFTHE WORLD

Light is so vital for our lives, animalsand plants. God created light on thefirst day of His literal six 24-hourdays of creation. God saw the lightand said that it was good (Gen 1:3-5). And on the fourth day God madethe sun, the moon and the stars tobe lights in the firmament, to dividethe day from the night; and let thembe for signs, for seasons, for days,and years (Gen 1:14-17).

As God’s natural light is free andavailable, many people take it forgranted. In darkness, how can wesee each other? How can we admirethe beautiful and splendid scenesof Nature or appreciate an artist’smasterpiece? How can we see andremove the dirt from our faces or ourbodies? How can we read a bookand understand it? How can we findthe way and walk safely in the rightdirection? How can we work and dothis or that? How can we discern atrue diamond or banknote from a fakeone? “O give thanks unto theLORD; for he is good: for his mercyendureth for ever. To him that madegreat lights: for his mercy endurethfor ever” (Ps 136:1,7). Natural lightis good and vital for our lives, howmuch more is God’s Divine Lightvital for our spiritual life!

God’s Word says, “God is light, andin him is no darkness at all” (1 John1:5), our heavenly Father is “theFather of lights” (James 1:17), ourLord Jesus Christ is “the true Light,”and “the light of the world” (John1:9; 8:12), and God’s Word is a lampand a light (Ps 119:105). To enjoythe true Light for our spiritual life,we are to come to our living and trueGod, to the Lord Jesus Christ, andto God’s Word alone.

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ is the trueLight.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, forbeing my true Light.

47

FRIDAY, MAY 15JOHN 12:31-36PSALM 27:1

“The LORD is my Light

and my Salvation.”

IS JESUS CHRIST YOURTRUE LIGHT?

The Lord Jesus is “the true Light”(John 1:9). He says, “I am the lightof the world: he that followeth meshall not walk in darkness, but shallhave the light of life” (John 8:12).However, not everyone has receivedand followed the Lord Jesus as thetrue Light of their spiritual life!

Many human religions and cults andoccult groups are deceivingthemselves by believing that theirgods, their leaders and their booksare true light! No wonder, even Satantransformed himself into an angel oflight (2 Cor 11:14). Many think thatthey are walking in the “light” whilethey are walking in spiritualdarkness! They cannot see God’struth nor their spiritual corruptionand perishing condition. Theyarrogantly regard themselves assaints, spiritual leaders or teachers,“a guide of the blind, a light of themwhich are in darkness” (Rom 2:19)and mislead many followers whoalso reject the Lord Jesus as their“true Light.” To them, our Lordsays, “Let them alone: they be blindleaders of the blind. And if the blindlead the blind, both shall fall intothe ditch” (Matt 15:14).

Many others love to live in thedarkness of sin. They reject the LordJesus as their true Light “becausetheir deeds were evil. For every onethat doeth evil hateth the light,neither cometh to the light, lest hisdeeds should be reproved” (John3:19-20). But those who love andpractise the truth despite theirhopelessness and helplessness willcome to the Lord Jesus Christ, theirtrue Light, “But he that doeth truthcometh to the light, that his deedsmay be made manifest, that they arewrought in God” (John 3:21).

How about us? Is the Lord JesusChrist our true Light?

THOUGHT: “While ye have light,believe in the light, that ye may bethe children of light” (John 12:36).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are myLight in this world of darkness.

48

SATURDAY, MAY 16EPHESIANS 5:8-14EPHESIANS 5:8

“Walk as children of light.”

WALKING IN LIGHT OR INDARKNESS? (1)

If we follow our Lord Jesus, we shallnot walk in darkness, but shall havethe light of life, “I am the light of theworld: he that followeth me shallnot walk in darkness, but shallhave the light of life” (John 8:12).How can we know if we are walkingin light or darkness?

Walking in the Lord’s Presence:The Lord Himself is our Light. Wemust have His presence as Light inour lives. Many may have a head-knowledge of the Lord and HisWord but do not have a livingfellowship with Him, so they are stillwalking in darkness. “But if we walkin the light, as he is in the light, wehave fellowship one with another,and the blood of Jesus Christ hisSon cleanseth us from all sin” (1John 1:7).

Walking by Faith: Our Lord Jesussays, “I am come a light into theworld, that whosoever believeth onme should not abide in darkness”(John 12:46). If we truly believe inthe Lord, we must believe in HisWord as well (John 3:34; 12:47-50;14:10) and “walk by faith, not bysight” (2 Cor 5:7). Those who doubtthe Lord and His Word are stillwalking in darkness!

Walking in Truth and with God’sGuidance: The Lord is Truth andHis Word is Truth (John 14:6; 17:17).If we are walking in the Light, wemust be walking in His will, truth andguidance, “O send out thy light andthy truth: let them lead me” (Ps 43:3).In darkness, many cannot see thetruth, nor discern the truth fromfalsehood, thinking that all religionsare good or all Bible versions aregood! Many are walking in darknesswithout God’s truth: doing their ownwill, living a double life, telling lies,and even “serving” the Lord butaccording to their own will, termsand ways!

THOUGHT: Am I walking in light orin darkness?PRAYER: Lord Jesus, keep mewalking in Your Light.

49

LORD’S DAY, MAY 172 CORINTHIANS 6:14-182 CORINTHIANS 6:14

“What communion

hath light with darkness?”

WALKING IN LIGHT OR INDARKNESS? (2)

Walking in Holiness andPractising Biblical Separation:God is holy and He demands us tobe holy, “Be ye holy; for I am holy”(1 Peter 1:15-16), and “God is light,and in him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5) and “what communionhath light with darkness?...Wherefore come out from amongthem, and be ye separate, saith theLord, and touch not the uncleanthing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor6:14,17; cf. Eph 5:11). If we do notlive in holiness and separateourselves from sin, unbelief,compromise, wrong doctrines andworldliness, we are still walking indarkness! To live in the Light, wemust walk in holiness and practiseBiblical Separation.

Walking in Love: God is Light andLove (1 John 1:5; 4:8), so “He thatloveth his brother abideth in thelight, and there is none occasion ofstumbling in him. But he that hatethhis brother is in darkness, andwalketh in darkness, and knowethnot whither he goeth, because thatdarkness hath blinded his eyes” (1John 2:10-11). This is not “humanlove” but Divine Love that“rejoiceth not in iniquity, butrejoiceth in the truth” (1 Cor 13:6).Many are living in darkness of hatredor vengeance. Many others arewilling to sacrifice God’s truth forthe sake of “love and unity” whilethey cannot discern God’s love fromhuman love, or biblical unity fromworldly unity!

Walking in Humble Submission:Paul was knocked down to theground by “a light from heaven,”and humbly said “Lord, what wiltthou have me to do?” (Acts 9: 3-6).If we really see the Lord and seeourselves in His Light, we will followHim in full submission. Many areproud and arrogant in darknesswithout any humble submission tothe Lord or His Word.

THOUGHT: Am I walking in the lightof holiness, love, and humility?PRAYER: Lord, please shine forthYour Light in me and through me.

50

MONDAY, MAY 182 CORINTHIANS 3:12-18MATTHEW 5:14

“Ye are the

light of the world.”

REFLECTING HIS LIGHT

It is vital for us to see that the trueLight of our spiritual life is the LordJesus Christ Himself, a living DivinePerson. Having Him, we have Light.Having fellowship with Him, we havefellowship with Light. Living in Him,we are living in Light. Beingcontrolled and led by Him, we arefilled with Light and directed byLight. As we open the windows tolet the light in and dispel thedarkness, we open our hearts towelcome the Lord Jesus Christ andsubmit to His control, His Light ofholiness, truth, love, joy, peace,hope and enlightenment which willdispel the darkness of sins,selfishness, lusts, hatred, gloom,fear, worry, doubt, confusion,ignorance from our hearts.

The Lord expects us to exactlyreflect His Light as “the light of theworld” (Matt 5:14). To reflect HisLight we must always have the LordJesus Christ Himself shining in ourhearts and there must be nothingbetween us and the Lord. “But weall, with open face beholding as ina glass (a mirror) the glory of theLord, are changed into the sameimage from glory to glory, even asby the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor3:18). A mirror facing the sun will beablaze with sunbeams. But how cana mirror reflect well if it is dirty or itsback faces the sun or there issomething between it and the sun?Likewise, our lives reflect God’s lightdifferently depending on how muchwe know the Lord and His truth, howmuch we are submissive to the Lordand to His perfect Word, and howclose we keep our fellowship withHim in His light. So, are we clearmirrors facing the Lord? Is thereanyone, anything, any sin, any idolor “self” between us and the Lord?

THOUGHT: Am I truly reflecting theLord’s Light?PRAYER: Lord, please help mereflect Your Light always.

51

TUESDAY, MAY 19JOHN 6:25-35JOHN 6:35

“I am the

Bread of Life.”

JESUS IS THE BREAD OFLIFE

Bread (or food) is essential for ourphysical life. Because of this, wehave to work to eat our own bread(2 Thess 3:12). Due to Adam andEve’s disobedience, the curse of sinand death entered into this world,“In the sweat of thy face shalt thoueat bread, till thou return unto theground; for out of it wast thoutaken: for dust thou art, and untodust shalt thou return” (Gen 3:19).Having no food or drink for a fewdays, we shall feel thirsty andhungry, and then weak, exhaustedand faint. When we have healthyfood and drink, we shall feelrefreshed, strengthened, andsatisfied. How about our spiritual lifeand spiritual food? Many souls arehungry and thirsty and they do notunderstand why they are notsatisfied at all. Pursuing fame, power,positions, wealth, human religions,life philosophies, fashions,materialism, worldly values orpleasures, they still feel empty andlearn that neither anyone noranything in this world can reallysatisfy them.

Our Lord Jesus Christ confirms, “Iam the bread of life: he that comethto me shall never hunger; and hethat believeth on me shall neverthirst” (John 6:35). Are our soulsreally satisfied in the Lord and neverhungry or thirsty for anything else?What does it mean when we say thatour Lord Jesus Christ is our Breadof Life?

Jesus Christ is the Bread of ourspiritual life, without whom oursouls shall be dissatisfied, empty,hungry, thirsty, exhausted andspiritually faint. May the Lord openour spiritual eyes to see that ourLord Jesus Christ Himself, a livingDivine Person, is our Bread of Life.Having Him, obeying Him andkeeping our living fellowship withHim, we have the Living Bread andtherefore spiritual nutrition, strengthand satisfaction.

THOUGHT: I need Jesus ChristHimself, my Spiritual Bread.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me findsatisfaction and strength in You.

52

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20JOHN 6:44-51JOHN 6:35

“I am the Bread of Life.”

IS JESUS YOUR BREAD OFLIFE?

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s statementis still the same throughout the ages,always in the present tense, “I amthe bread of life: he that cometh tome shall never hunger; and he thatbelieveth on me shall never thirst”(John 6:35). Then, right now, is JesusChrist Himself, a living DivinePerson, your Bread of Life?

Truly, God’s Word is our spiritualBread, “Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word thatproceedeth out of the mouth of God”(Matt 4:4), but many just read God’sWord without a living fellowshipwith the Lord Jesus Christ Himself,so they still feel empty, hungry andthirsty. Our Lord Jesus is “the Wordof life” and His name is called “TheWord of God” (John 1:1; 1 John 1:1;Rev 19:13), and we do need Him toopen our understanding so that wemay “understand the scriptures”(Luke 24:45) and be edified,nurtured, strengthened andsatisfied. Without sinceredependence on and submission tothe Lord Jesus Christ, the HolySpirit, and God’s Word, many do notunderstand God’s Word properlyand then misinterpret it and misleadmany others.

Dear friends, we should bediscerning and cautious aboutunhealthy bread from books,journals and magazines, evenmodern Bible versions, “Christian”websites, articles or commentarieswhich may contain the poison ofwrong doctrines or human ideas ormisinterpretation, casting doubt onGod’s Word by arrogant textualcriticism which harms our spirituallife and our holy faith. The livingtruth in the past, present and foreveris still the same: our Lord JesusChrist is our Life, our Light, ourBread of life, and our All. The morewe know Him, the more we shallappreciate Him, love Him, trust inHim, depend on Him and submit toHim and His Word and shall findtrue satisfaction.

THOUGHT: I cannot live withoutthe Lord Jesus Christ Himself.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I do needYou, my Life, Bread and Light.

53

THURSDAY, MAY 21JOHN 6:24-37JOHN 6:35

“He that cometh to me

shall never hunger.”

COMING TO JESUS, THEBREAD OF LIFE

Jesus says, “I am the bread of life:he that cometh to me shall neverhunger” (John 6:35). What are ourmotives when we seek and come tothe Lord Jesus Christ? In Johnchapter 6, Jesus performed themiracle of feeding 5,000 men besideswomen and children. The next day,the multitude got into boats andwere looking for Jesus (v 24). Theyfound Him, but their motive was onlyfor material blessing, because they“did eat of the loaves, and werefilled” (v 26), not because of theLord Himself as their Messiah. Manytoday are also seeking the Lord formaterial blessings such as health,wealth, and salvation without theirrepentance or submission. They willnot be spiritually satisfied!

Jesus always welcomes everyonecoming to Him with His open arms,“him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out” (v 37), but humanbeings with their rebellious andsinful hearts cannot come to theLord with proper motives and fullsubmission. Jesus confirms, “Noman can come to me, except theFather which hath sent me drawhim” (v 44; cf. 45, 65). Many churchleaders may boast of their cleverleadership and worldly methods of“church growth” with bigmembership, but how many of themare sincerely submissive to the LordJesus Christ and God’s Word? Notonly did the Jews murmur againstJesus (v 41), but many of Hisdisciples also murmured, went back,and walked no more with Him (vv60-61, 66). Jesus did not run afterthem nor lower His standard. Heasked His twelve disciples, “Will yealso go away?” (v 67).

Dear friends, it is by God’s gracealone that we may willingly andsubmissively come to our Lord JesusChrist, take up our cross, and followHim. When we do this by God’sgrace, we “shall never hunger.”

THOUGHT: Come to Jesus Christwith proper motives.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me cometo You because of Yourself.

54

FRIDAY, MAY 22JOHN 6:53-58JOHN 6:35

“He that believeth on me

shall never thirst.”

BELIEVE IN JESUS, THEBREAD OF LIFE

Jesus says, “I am the bread of life:… and he that believeth on me shallnever thirst” (John 6:35). Do wereally believe in the Lord JesusChrist? The faith that we maysubmissively believe in the LordJesus Christ must be a gift from God,“For by grace are ye saved throughfaith; and that not of yourselves: itis the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).Submissively believing in the Lordis submissively believing in andobeying His Word, “By faithAbraham,…obeyed” (Heb 11:8).Many profess that they believe inJesus but question or criticise HisWord! Their faith is not from God.

When Jesus says, “He that eatethmy flesh, and drinketh my blood,dwelleth in me, and I in him. As theliving Father hath sent me, and Ilive by the Father: so he that eatethme, even he shall live by me” (John6: 56-57), He does not mean eatingHis real flesh nor drinking His realblood, but He wants us to receiveHim, depend on Him and obey Him,saying to Him, “I do need, believeand receive Your death for mepersonally, Your blood for theconstant cleansing of all my sins,and Your resurrected Life for myspiritual food, the living Bread. I liveby You and I cannot live withoutYou.” Exactly, “he that eateth me,even he shall live by me” shows aconstant dependence on andsubmission to the Lord Jesus Christand His Word. Peter submissivelyconfessed, “Lord, to whom shall wego? thou hast the words of eternallife. And we believe and are surethat thou art that Christ, the Son ofthe living God” (vv 68-69).

Dear friends, when we submissivelybelieve in the Lord and His Word,we shall never thirst.

THOUGHT: “My meat is to do thewill of him that sent me” (John 4:34).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help mesubmissively believe in You andYour Word.

55

SATURDAY, MAY 23JOHN 14:1-11JOHN 14:6

“I am the way,

the truth, and the life.”

JESUS IS THE WAY, THETRUTH AND THE LIFE

There may be different ways fromour home to the airport. There is asaying, “All roads can lead toRome.” That is true in the physicalsphere, but that is not the truth forour salvation. Sadly, many acceptthat concept for their salvation. Ifsinful human beings were able tofind a way to save themselves andto lead them to Heaven, our LordJesus Christ would not have neededto come into this world to die and tosave sinners! If all religions can leadsinners to God and Heaven, wewould not need to evangelise orcontend for God’s Truth!

Many nowadays are very “open-minded” and “tolerant,” believingthat all religions are good and allways can lead them to God or toHeaven. This mindset promotes aone-world religion or the ecumenicalmovement. They welcome allreligions and all beliefs regardlessof idolatry or unbiblical doctrines,gathering to worship God and prayto God together! Why do they havethat mindset? Because they are stillin spiritual darkness and cannotdiscern the truth from falsehood. Wehave learnt that the Lord JesusChrist is our true Light and we doneed Him to shine His Light into ourhearts and open our eyes to see thetruth in His Word with spiritualdiscernment.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Truth,God’s Word is Truth and the HolySpirit is Truth, then by following theLord and His Word we are safe. Jesusconfirms that there is only one livingand true Way that leads us to Godand Heaven and that Way is theLord Jesus Christ Himself, “I am theway, the truth, and the life: no mancometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6).

THOUGHT: Without Jesus, there isno way to God or to Heaven.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbeing the Way, the Truth and theLife for me.

56

LORD’S DAY, MAY 24JOHN 3:11-18JOHN 14:6

“I am the Way.”

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAYTO GOD AND HEAVEN

Many human religious leaders mightclaim that they have found the truthor a way to God or to Heaven, but itis only man’s empty claim andimagination. They are sinful humanbeings, bound to sin and death,waiting for the Judgment Day. Theyhave never been to Heaven nor seenGod the Father, how can they knowthe way? But our Lord Jesus is thevery God from Heaven, saying, “Andno man hath ascended up toheaven, but he that came down fromheaven, even the Son of man whichis in heaven” (John 3:13). Jesushumbled Himself and came into thisworld to die for sinners, but He isrisen, saying, “I am he that liveth,and was dead; and, behold, I amalive for evermore, Amen; and havethe keys of hell and of death” (Rev1:18).

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not teachor show His disciples a way to theFather or to Heaven, but He Himself,a living Divine Person is the livingand true Way. Following Jesus’teaching is not enough, we musthave the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.Having Him, we have the Way.Following Him, obeying Him, andkeeping a living fellowship with Him,we are on the living and true Way oron the right track to Heaven and toour heavenly Father. “Havingtherefore, brethren, boldness toenter into the holiest by the bloodof Jesus, By a new and living way,which he hath consecrated for us,through the veil, that is to say, hisflesh…Let us therefore come boldlyunto the throne of grace, that wemay obtain mercy, and find graceto help in time of need” (Heb 10:19-20; 4:16). Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: The Lord Jesus Christalone is the only Way to God.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am on theright track when I follow You, theliving and true Way to God andHeaven. Praise the Lord!

57

MONDAY, MAY 25MATTHEW 7:13-23MATTHEW 7:14

“Narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life.”

THE NARROW WAY THATLEADS TO LIFE

Most people prefer a broad way, andvery few like a narrow way becauseit is neither spacious norcomfortable. Spiritually speaking,many are very broad-minded,thinking that all religious ways willlead them to a better place as longas they are sincere and not doingevil. But they fail to see thatforsaking God is committing evilalready (Jer 2:13). Even inChristianity, many think that theyonly need to believe in the LordJesus to be saved, without beingbound by anything, not even byGod’s Word! The way they live andworship is worldly andcompromising! No wonder, “broadis the way, that leadeth todestruction, and many there bewhich go in thereat” (Matt 7:13).They fail to see that true faith mustshow the fruit of trust in andobedience to the Lord (Heb 11:8).

Our Lord does not want us to bebound by man and by human words,rituals, or traditions. He requires usto submit to Him, to His will and toHis Word. “Not every one that saithunto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter intothe kingdom of heaven; but he thatdoeth the will of my Father whichis in heaven” (Matt 7:21). Becauseof love, He commands us, “Enterye in at the strait gate: … Becausestrait is the gate, and narrow is theway, which leadeth unto life, andfew there be that find it” (Matt 7:13-14).

Then we should not be discouragedwhen very few are willing to walk inthe narrow way in the boundaries ofGod’s Word. It is good to challengeourselves, “If others do not believein the Lord and His every preservedWord, shall I also?” and “If manydo not walk in God’s narrow way,shall I also?”

THOUGHT: God’s narrow way willlead me to eternal life.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me notto be discouraged when walking inYour narrow Way.

58

TUESDAY, MAY 26MATTHEW 16:21-28LUKE 9:23

“Take up his cross daily,

and follow me.”

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

The narrow way is not an easy way.It is the way of the cross, of shame,of self-denial, of full submission. Nowonder, not many are willing to walkin it. Our Lord Jesus is the living andtrue Way, and walking in Him meansfollowing Him with our fulldependence, submission andobedience, “to walk, even as he(Jesus) walked” (1 John 2:6). OurLord Jesus challenges His followers,“If any man will come after me, lethim deny himself, and take up hiscross daily, and follow me” (Luke9:23). Denying ourselves and takingup our cross mean being dead to ourselfish “I” (self-will, self-image, self-love, self-complacency, self-importance, self-glory, etc. – Gal2:20), to our sinful nature (the fleshwith sinful lusts – Gal 5:24), and toworldliness (Gal 6:14). Are we willingto deny ourselves and our own willto follow the Lord and to do His will?Let us remember that “he that doeththe will of God abideth for ever” (1John 2:17). And it will lead us toHeaven (Matt 7:21).

Doing God’s will is following ourLord Jesus Christ, loving Him,obeying Him, serving Him, keepingHis words, glorifying Him, and livinga godly life according to His Word(Luke 9:23; 10:27; John 6:40; 12:26;14:23; 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Thess 4:3).When we are willing to humbly takeup our cross, to submissively followour Lord Jesus Christ and to doGod’s Word, He will give ussufficient grace to do His will, “Forit is God which worketh in you bothto will and to do of his goodpleasure” (Phil 2:13) and “My graceis sufficient for thee: for my strengthis made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor12:9). All praise and glory be untoHim alone.

THOUGHT: No cross, no crown ofglory (Luke 24:26).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me takeup my cross and follow You daily.

59

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27GALATIANS 1:1-9JONAH 2:9

“Salvation is of the LORD.”

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAYTO SALVATION

Our Lord Jesus alone is the livingand true Way to the Father, toHeaven and to our salvation, notthrough any human agent, not evenMary, a saint, a Pope, a bishop, apriest, a pastor, a minister, orthrough any religious practices, noteven the church, traditions, rituals,sacraments, etc. Our Lord Jesusstates clearly, “no man cometh untothe Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6). TheBible confirms, “Salvation is of theLORD” (Jonah 2:9), and, “Neitheris there salvation in any other: forthere is none other name underheaven given among men, wherebywe must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesusis the only Way, so we should notbe deceived by any other way or adifferent gospel or a different Jesusor a different spirit. This is a goodwarning, “But I fear, lest by anymeans, as the serpent beguiled Evethrough his subtilty, so your mindsshould be corrupted from thesimplicity that is in Christ. For ifhe that cometh preacheth anotherJesus, whom we have not preached,or if ye receive another spirit,which ye have not received, oranother gospel, which ye have notaccepted, ye might well bear withhim” (2 Cor 11:3-4).

Surely knowing and believing thatthere is salvation only throughJesus Christ, we shall not beashamed of His gospel but beconstrained by His love to shareHis pure gospel to the unsaved,“For I am not ashamed of thegospel of Christ: for it is the powerof God unto salvation to every onethat believeth” (Rom 1:16), and“Therefore I endure all things forthe elect’s sakes, that they may alsoobtain the salvation which is inChrist Jesus with eternal glory” (2Tim 2:10).

THOUGHT: “Woe is unto me, if Ipreach not the gospel!” (1 Cor9:16).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbeing my Salvation. Pleaseconstrain me by Your love to shareYour salvation message with others.

60

THURSDAY, MAY 28EPHESIANS 1:1-142 CORINTHIANS 2:14

“To triumph in Christ.”

JESUS IS THE WAY TOSPIRITUAL

BLESSINGS AND VICTORY

Many think that Jesus Christ is agift or blessing among many othergifts or blessings from God, so theyare still seeking many other gifts orblessings besides the Lord Jesus!God’s Word confirms that all thesegifts or blessings are from, by andin Christ only: “He that spared nothis own Son, but delivered him upfor us all, how shall he not with himalso freely give us all things?” (Rom8:32) and, “Blessed be the God andFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,who hath blessed us with allspiritual blessings in heavenlyplaces in Christ” (Eph 1: 3). MayGod help us to see this truth andwisely seek the Lord Jesus first inall things.

Jesus is also the only way to victoryover our “self,” sinful nature,temptations, trials, worldliness, etc.Many books have been writtenabout how to live a victorious lifeover temptations, difficulties orproblems. However, if they are notabout the Lord Jesus Himself, theyare only human ways, ideas,methods, or secrets that will neverhelp due to the sinful and depravednature of human beings. It is easyto say or to write about good things,but how to perform it is anothermatter. Paul shared his helplessnessand hopelessness about himself andhis victory in Jesus Christ alone, “Owretched man that I am! who shalldeliver me from the body of thisdeath? I thank God through JesusChrist our Lord” (Rom 7: 24, 25),and “Nay, in all these things we aremore than conquerors through himthat loved us” (Rom 8:37; cf. 2 Cor2:14). Dear friends, we can only havetrue victory when we humbly trustin and submit to the Lord Jesus andGod’s Word. There is no other way.

THOUGHT: Having the Lord JesusChrist. I have all the blessings andvictory.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me seekYou first.

61

FRIDAY, MAY 29JOHN 8:31-43JOHN 14:6

“I am …the Truth.”

JESUS IS THE TRUTH

Where can we find the truth aboutGod and man, His work of creation,His salvation for man, His judgment,and His will and commandments forman? We can never find the truth inSatan because “there is no truth inhim…for he is a liar, and the fatherof it” (John 8:44). Nowadays somereligious groups even openlyworship Satan! They are reallyblinded by Satan and are in spiritualdarkness (2 Cor 4:4). Many othersare unwittingly worshipping Satan,“the things which the Gentilessacrifice, they sacrifice to devils,and not to God” (1 Cor 10:19-20).Neither can we find the truth insinful man who lives in bondage tochange, sins and death, “let God betrue, but every man a liar” (Rom3:4). Then, we should not bedeceived by books written by men,even by religious leaders, claimingthat they have the truth.

Thank God that “God is true” (2 Cor1:18) and His “word is truth” (John17:17), His “word is true from thebeginning” (Ps 119:160) and His“words are true and faithful” (Rev21:5). Through God’s written Word(the Scriptures) we may find andknow the Truth. Moreover, God sentHis only begotten Son into thisworld to confirm, bear witness unto,and fulfil God’s written Truth. JesusChrist is the living Truth of God,who confirms, “I am the way, thetruth, and the life: no man comethunto the Father, but by me” (John14: 6), and “I tell you the truth… Isay the truth, why do ye not believeme?” (John 8:45-46), and “for thiscause came I into the world, that Ishould bear witness unto the truth”(John 18:37). Truly, Jesus Christ is“full of grace and truth…grace andtruth came by Jesus Christ” (John1:14,17), and “the truth is in Jesus”(Eph 4:21).

THOUGHT: We can only find theTruth in Jesus and through God’sWord.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe inYou, the Truth of God.

62

SATURDAY, MAY 30JOHN 16:1-15JOHN 16:13

“The Spirit of truth…

will guide you into all truth.”

DO YOU BELIEVE INGOD’S TRUTH?

God wants all mankind, includingus, “to be saved, and to come untothe knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim2:4), and He has given mankind Hiswritten Word/Truth (the Scriptures)and His living Word/Truth (His onlybegotten Son), but sadly, not allhumbly believe and receive God’sTruth. Today, if we share “the truthof the gospel” (Gal 2:5) to others,many are not interested, some evenfeel offended, and some even resistthe Truth! Exactly as God’s Wordsays, “they shall turn away theirears from the truth” (2 Tim 4:4), and“believed not the truth” (2 Thess2:12), and “changed the truth of Godinto a lie” (Rom 1:25), and “do notobey the truth” (Rom 2:8), and“these also resist the truth: men ofcorrupt minds” (2 Tim 3:8). It isserious when “they received not thelove of the truth, that they might besaved. And for this cause God shallsend them strong delusion, thatthey should believe a lie” (2 Thess2:10-11). It is serous for those whothink that their beliefs are right whenthey are not based on the Truth ofGod’s Word and Jesus Christ!

Dear friends, Truth is Truth whetherwe believe or not. We cannot debateor argue to find out the Truth. Wemust be illumined and our spiritualeyes must be opened to see theTruth. Thank God for graciouslysending the Holy Spirit, the Spirit ofTruth, to help us see, understand,and believe in God’s Truth. “Whenhe, the Spirit of truth, is come, hewill guide you into all truth” (John16:13). Shall we not wisely humbleourselves and submissively ask theHoly Spirit to guide us and help ussee God’s Truth?

THOUGHT: I need the Holy Spiritin order to see God’s Truth.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forsending the Spirit of Truth to helpme see and know the Truth.

63

LORD’S DAY, MAY 31PSALM 100PSALM 146: 5-6

“The LORD…

keepeth truth for ever.”

GOD KEEPS TRUTH FOREVER

As the Lord Jesus is Truth, God’sWord is Truth and the Holy Spirit isTruth (John 14:6; 17:17; 1 John 5:6).We must see that these three are onewithout any contradiction. JesusChrist and the Holy Spirit nevercontradict God’s written Word/Truth, which is complete andsufficient. We should not bedeceived by those who claim thatthey have received new revelationfrom the Lord Jesus or from the HolySpirit or even recorded it in a bookregarded as God’s truth!

Satan is “a liar, and the father ofit” (John 8:44), and he does not wantanyone to receive God’s Truth andbe saved, “then cometh the devil,and taketh away the word out oftheir hearts, lest they should believeand be saved” (Luke 8:12).Therefore, he has actively attackedand cast doubt on God’s Word/Truth since the beginning, “Yea,hath God said?” (Gen 3:1). Today,many have fallen into the trap ofSatan to criticise and cast doubt onGod’s Word/Truth. They do notbelieve that the omniscient andomnipotent God is able to keep HisWord/Truth as He has promised.“The words of the LORD are purewords: as silver tried in a furnaceof earth, purified seven times. Thoushalt keep them, O LORD, thou shaltpreserve them from this generationfor ever” (Ps 12:6-7). God “madeheaven, and earth, the sea, and allthat therein is: which keepeth truthfor ever” (Ps 146:6; cf. Exod 34:6; Ps31:5; 119:160; Dan 10:21). Our LordJesus confirms, “For verily I sayunto you, Till heaven and earthpass, one jot or one tittle shall inno wise pass from the law, till all befulfilled” (Matt 5:18). We must standfirm on the foundation of God’sWord/Truth no matter what othersmay say.

THOUGHT: “For we can donothing against the truth, but forthe truth” (2 Cor 13:8).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forconfirming God’s preserved writtenWord/Truth.

64

MONDAY, JUNE 1GALATIANS 5:16-263 JOHN 1:3

“Thou walkest in the truth.”

ARE YOU WALKING IN THETRUTH?

It is vital to know that Jesus Christand the Holy Spirit are for God’swritten Word/Truth, which enduresfor ever. “The truth of the LORDendureth for ever” (Ps 117:2), and“the word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Peter 1:25; Isa 40:8) just asJesus Christ and the Holy Spirit arefor ever (Heb 1:8; 10:14; 13:8; Rev5:13). Only walking in God’s Truthor doing God’s “abideth for ever”(1 John 2:17). What does it mean to“walk in the Truth” (3 John 1:3)?

Walking in the Truth is walkingwithin the boundaries of God’sWord, which is the Truth, “takingheed thereto according to thyword” (Ps 119:9). We are to studyGod’s Word to know God’s will andthen worship Him, serve Him, andlive according to God’s Word, whichis the foundation of our faith, beliefs,doctrines, worship and practices(Matt 7:24-25; Eph 2:20; 2 Tim 3:16-17; James 1:22).

Walking in the Truth is walking asJesus Christ walked. He is the Truth,so we are to walk “even as hewalked” (1 John 2:6). We are to livea humble, holy, and victorious lifeas He lived. And we are to love,obey, serve and glorify God as Hedid. Jesus Christ is the perfectexample for us to follow (John 13:15;1 Peter 2:21).

Walking in the Truth is walking inthe Holy Spirit, who is Truth. “Walkin the Spirit” (Gal 5:16, 25). We arenot to walk in the flesh, nor to let itcontrol us, nor to trust in ourselves,but to humbly trust in the HolySpirit, His guidance, His help, Hispower, and submit to His control, “befilled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18).

Dear friends, let us walk as Jesuswalked in the Truth of God’s Wordand in the guidance and power ofthe Holy Spirit.

THOUGHT: Am I walking in God’sTruth?PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me walkas You walked in God’s Truth.

65

TUESDAY, JUNE 2JOHN 15:1-8JOHN 15:1

“I am the true Vine.”

JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth,and the life” (John 14:6), and “I amthe resurrection, and the life” (John11:25), and “I am the true vine”(John 15:1). All these statements tellus that Jesus is our true Life or trueSource of spiritual Life. We mustthank the Lord that He does not onlygive us His teaching of the Truth orHis perfect Example for us to follow,but also gives us His Life so that wemay live and walk as He lived andwalked. Praise the Lord and all glorybe unto Him!

With a totally depraved, corrupt andsinful human nature, no one can livea true Christian life as Jesus livedwithout His Life. The Jewish leadersappeared good, beautiful andrighteous outwardly before men, butour Lord Jesus saw that their heartswere full of hypocrisy, uncleannessand iniquity (Matt 23:25-28). That isthe vast difference between trueChristianity and all other humanreligions. Knowing this truth, weshall not be deceived or impressedby any who boasts of his good lifeor good religion outside of Christ!

Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye arethe branches: He that abideth inme, and I in him, the same bringethforth much fruit: for without me yecan do nothing” (John 15:5). Thisshows Jesus’ sufficient Life,strength, and power to support andnurture the branches so that theymay bear much good fruit. It alsoshows the total dependence andsubmission of the branches, whichcan never live or produce any fruitby themselves without the Vine.

Dear friends, Jesus Christ Himself, aliving Divine Person, is the TrueSource of our spiritual Life. HavingHim and maintaining a livingfellowship with Him, we have HisLife. Without Him, we have no Life(1 John 5:12).

THOUGHT: Jesus Himself is thetrue Source of my spiritual Life.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbeing my true Divine Life.

66

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3JOHN 15:8-17JOHN 15:8

“Herein is my Father glorified,

that ye bear much fruit.”

BEARING MUCH FRUITFOR GOD’S GLORY

God the Father gave mankind Hisonly begotten Son to be the TrueSource of spiritual Life. We mustthank God for graciously grafting us(like wild branches) onto the TrueVine so that we may partake of theroot and life of the Vine. This remindsus not to be proud or high-mindedbut with humble reverence begrateful to Him as it is the Vine thatsupports the branches and not viceversa (Rom 11:16-22).

God the Father is the Husbandman(a farmer, a gardener) who takes careof the branches and purges them sothat they may bear more fruit for Hisglory (John 15:1,2,8,16). And He willcut off every branch that does notbear fruit (v 2). This reminds us thatwe must bear fruit, more fruit andmuch fruit for His glory. There is noother way. What are the fruit thatGod expects us to bear?

God wants us “to be conformed tothe image of his Son” (Rom 8:29),and bear “the fruit of the Spirit islove, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance” (Gal 5:22-23), and “all goodness andrighteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9),and have our “fruit unto holiness”(Rom 6:22), “the peaceable fruit ofrighteousness” (Heb 12:11), and“the fruit of our lips giving thanksto his name” (Heb 13:15), and bearthe fruit of His Word, “broughtforth fruit, some an hundredfold,some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold”(Matt 13:8). All the above is goodand precious fruit that God expectsus to bear. Because of this He hasto purge us, clean us and purify us.Thank God for His love, Hisgoodness, and His gracious work inus!

THOUGHT: Am I bearing much fruitfor God’s glory?PRAYER: Father, I thank You forgrafting me onto Your Son andpurging me so that I may bear morefruit for Your glory.

67

THURSDAY, JUNE 4JOHN 15:1-8JOHN 15:4

“Abide in me,

and I in you.”

ABIDE IN ME AND I INYOU

God has given us His only begottenSon to be our true Source of spiritualLife, and He expects us to bear muchfruit for His glory. Then what shouldwe do to bear much fruit?

There are two conditions to bearmuch fruit: (1) Abide in Jesus, and(2) Let Jesus and His Words abidein us. “I am the vine, ye are thebranches: He that abideth in me,and I in him, the same bringethforth much fruit: for without me yecan do nothing” (v.5). “If ye abidein me, and my words abide in you,ye shall ask what ye will, and it shallbe done unto you” (v 7).

To abide in Jesus means to humblyseek Him first in all things,constantly depending on Him,trusting in Him, and looking untoHim for life and strength. Satan mayuse the cares of this world, thedeceitfulness of riches, worldlypleasures, wrong doctrines, etc. todistract us from our focus on ourLord Jesus, our Life. Our lovingFather may purge us, discipline us,or use difficulties or trials to bringus back to the Lord.

To let Jesus and His words abide inus means letting the Lord and HisWord control and direct our wholebeing, our hearts, minds, motives,and lives. It means dying to self andletting the Lord live and manifest Hislife in us and through us (2 Cor 4:10-11). No more I, but Christ (Gal 2:20).Our loving Father may purge us fromour self-will, self-confidence, self-righteousness, self-justification,self-glory, etc. by using failures,trials or “a thorn in the flesh” tohumble us until we totally submit tothe authority and control of the Lordand His Word. Then how can thosewho criticise and doubt God’s Wordbring forth good fruit?

THOUGHT: Am I abiding in Jesusand is He abiding in me?PRAYER: Lord Jesus, keep medependent on and submissive toYou always.

68

FRIDAY, JUNE 5HEBREWS 12:5-11ISAIAH 64:8

“We are the clay,

and thou our potter.”

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’SGRACIOUS WORK

We have learnt that our heavenlyFather as the caring Gardener has topurge or cleanse us so that we maybear much fruit for His glory as wetotally depend on and humblysubmit to our Lord Jesus Christ andHis Word (John 15:1-8).

God’s Word also tells us that Godas our loving Father has to chastiseand correct us His children so thatwe may be “partakers of Hisholiness” (Heb 12:10), and that Godhas to refine and purify us as thegracious Refiner and Purifier doesto gold or silver so that we may comeforth as pure gold. “And he shall sitas a refiner and purifier of silver:and he shall purify the sons of Levi,and purge them as gold and silver,that they may offer unto the LORDan offering in righteousness” (Mal3:3). God has to mould us as thesovereign Potter does to the clay sothat we may be “a vessel untohonour, sanctified, and meet for themaster’s use” (2 Tim 2:21). “Butnow, O LORD, thou art our father;we are the clay, and thou our potter;and we all are the work of thyhand” (Isa 64:8; cf. Jer 18:2-6; Rom9:20-24).

We must be grateful to our lovingFather and His gracious work in ourlives through His Word, His SonJesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.“Being confident of this very thing,that he which hath begun a goodwork in you will perform it until theday of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6). Inhis great trials, Job acknowledgedthe refining work of God in his life.He said, “when he hath tried me, Ishall come forth as gold” (Job23:10). How about you? Would yourespond in the same way?

THOUGHT: My heavenly Father’sgracious work is so good to me.PRAYER: O Father, how I thank Youfor Your gracious work in my life.

69

SATURDAY, JUNE 6JOB 1:6-22MALACHI 3:3

“He shall sit as a

refiner and purifier of silver.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (1)

Gold is rare, precious and valuable.To get gold, people are to mine itfrom the ore, crush it into smallpieces in special machines, wash itin water to separate it from sand,earth, or gravel, and then burn it byfire to remove the dross or impuritiesthus purifying it. After getting puregold, people may melt it and mouldit into whatever shapes they wantto make gold ornaments or jewellery.

Looking at the life and trials of Job,we shall see God’s gracious work ofrefining him until he came forth aspure gold. The trials Job sufferedwere very great (Job 2:13) andheavier than the sand of the sea (6:2-3).

The loss of material wealth: Jobwas very wealthy, but because ofSatan’s accusation against his faith,God allowed Satan to take away hismaterial wealth so as to test his faith(1:10-11).

The loss of children: Job had tenchildren—seven sons and threedaughters (1:2)—whom he loved,and for whom he prayed and offeredburnt offerings continually (1:5).God permitted Satan to take awayhis children (1:12-19).

The loss of good health: SeeingJob’s perseverance, Satan accusedhim of believing in God because ofgood health (2:4-9). So God let Satantorture him with sore boils from thesole of his feet to the top of his head.

The loss of respect and support: Jobused to be highly respected by theaged, the princes, and the nobles(29:6-11). But now his wife, hisrelatives, his friends and even hisservants despised him (19:14-19).Even his three friends mercilesslymisjudged him, assuming that Jobwas suffering the punishment of thewicked due to his iniquity. This maywell be the worst of all sufferingsfor Job.

THOUGHT: I need to see God’ssovereignty in my trials.PRAYER: O Father, help me see Yoursovereignty and gracious work in allmy trials.

70

LORD’S DAY, JUNE 7JAMES 5:7-112 CORINTHIANS 12: 9

“My grace is

sufficient for thee.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (2)

We thank God that in his great trials,Job blessed the name of the Lord,worshipped Him and did not sin.“Naked came I out of my mother’swomb, and naked shall I returnthither: the LORD gave, and theLORD hath taken away; blessed bethe name of the LORD” (Job 1:20-22). When Satan used his wife todiscourage him, “Dost thou stillretain thine integrity? curse God,and die” (2:9), Job still trusted inGod. Job replied his wife, “Thouspeakest as one of the foolishwomen speaketh. What? shall wereceive good at the hand of God,and shall we not receive evil?”(2:10). Praise the Lord for Hissufficient and sustaining grace thatJob was able to trust in the Lord inhis great sufferings. Job sometimesdesired death in his depression, buthe never attempted to commitsuicide. “Though he slay me, yetwill I trust in Him,” (13:15). God’sWord encourages His children whoare suffering to persevere as Jobdid. “Behold, we count them happywhich endure. Ye have heard of thepatience of Job, and have seen theend of the Lord; that the Lord is verypitiful, and of tender mercy” (James5:11).

Nevertheless, as sinful humanbeings with a corrupt and depravednature, Job’s sinful “self” wasexposed by God Himself and in theend he abhorred himself and said inrepentance, “I abhor myself, andrepent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).Only God can help Job do that,nobody else can. Indeed, this is partof God’s refining work so that Jobmight come forth as gold (23:10).What did God purify Job from? It ishis self-righteousness, self-glory,self-justification and complaining.

We must thank God for His sufficientgrace and His refining work in ourlives, even in our trials.

THOUGHT: Do I see God’ssufficient grace and refining work inmy life?PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Yoursufficient grace and Your refiningwork in my life.

71

MONDAY, JUNE 8ROMANS 3:20-26PHILIPPIANS 3:9

“The righteousness

which is of God by faith.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (3)

Self-righteousness: God consideredJob “perfect and upright, and onethat feared God, and eschewedevil” (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). Does Godcontradicts Himself since His Wordsays, “There is none righteous, no,not one” (Rom 3:10), and “The heartis deceitful above all things, anddesperately wicked; who can knowit?” (Jer 17:9), and “all ourrighteousnesses are as filthy rags”(Isa 64:6)? God forbid! Only God, andHimself alone, has the right to justifysinners when they believe in Himand receive His atoning sacrifice inthe Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 3:22-26).Before Jesus came into the world,the sacrifice of a lamb was a type ofChrist which pointed to Hisatonement. This is why God couldjustify the Old Testament saints likeAbel (Gen 4:4; Heb 11:4) andAbraham (Gen 15:6; Rom 4:16-22),etc.

Here it is God, who had the right tojustify Job (Job 1:1, 8; 2: 3) becauseJob believed in Him and His atoningsacrifice. Job used to rise up earlyand offered burnt offerings, and hedid this continually (1:5). It is sadthat in his great trials, Job failed todo this, even failed to mention thisatoning sacrifice in all his arguments.Not only did Job forget that hisrighteousness was from God, he alsotried his best to defend hisrighteousness before the harsh andfalse accusations of his three friends.Job mentioned “my righteousness”twice (6:29; 27:6). Can “myrighteousness” stand before theholy God? Absolutely not! Godchallenged and rebuked Job and hedid learn to abhor himself includinghis own righteousness, his ownintegrity, and his arrogant wordswithout knowledge (42:1-6).

May God help us count all thingsbut loss so that we may win Christand be found in Him “not havingmine own righteousness…but… therighteousness which is of God byfaith” (Phil 3:8-9).

THOUGHT: I need God’srighteousness by faith in Christ.PRAYER: Lord, thank You forgiving me Your righteousness.

72

TUESDAY, JUNE 9PSALM 136PSALM 136:1

“O give thanks

unto the LORD.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (4)

Self-goodness and Self-glory: Allthe good works that we can do areby God’s grace alone. It is God whoworks in us “both to will and to doof his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).Therefore, it is proper to say likePaul, “But by the grace of God I amwhat I am: and his grace which wasbestowed upon me was not in vain;but I laboured more abundantlythan they all: yet not I, but the graceof God which was with me” (1 Cor15:10).

It is true that “A man can receivenothing, except it be given him fromheaven” (John 3:27). Job reallyneeded to learn the lesson ofhumility. Instead of giving all thanksand glory to God who had helpedhim do good works, Job seemed toboast of what he had done. We canrecognise his many I’s: “Because Idelivered the poor that cried, andthe fatherless,…and I caused thewidow’s heart to sing for joy. I puton righteousness, and it clothed me:my judgment was as a robe and adiadem. I was eyes to the blind, andfeet was I to the lame. I was a fatherto the poor…” (Job 29:12-17).

How about Job’s present situation?Could he now say that he was eyesto the blind, and feet to the lame,and father to the poor? It is a lessonfor him to learn that without God’sgrace and blessings, he could notdo any good works! Moreover, afterencountering God directly andpersonally, he did abhor himself andrepent in dust and ashes (42:6).

We cannot give what we do nothave. If God does not give us life,good health, strength, sound mindand good opportunities, we cannotwork or give our offering back to Himor help others!

THOUGHT: “Thou art worthy, OLord, to receive glory” (Rev 4:11).PRAYER: Lord, I give thanks andglory to You for all Your blessings.

73

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 101 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13PHILIPPIANS 2:14

“Do all things

without murmurings.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (5)

Self-justification andComplaining: Complaining andmurmuring against God are evil andsin, “How long shall I bear with thisevil congregation, which murmuragainst me? I have heard themurmurings of the children of Israel,which they murmur against me”(Num 14:27). “Neither murmur ye,as some of them also murmured, andwere destroyed of the destroyer” (1Cor 10:10). When we complain ormurmur against God, we are actuallysaying that God is not good, notright, not fair, not just, and that weare not happy with His will, His way,or His dealings! This is sin!

Job, in his great depression andsufferings and before the falseaccusations of his three friends,sometimes lost his control, andcomplained against God and becamedefensive: “I will complain in thebitterness of my soul…How longwilt thou (God) not depart fromme?” (7:11, 19), “He (God) tearethme in his wrath, who hateth me”(16:9-14), “Know now that God hathoverthrown me, and hathcompassed me with his net. Behold,I cry out of wrong, but I am notheard: I cry aloud, but there is nojudgment. He hath destroyed me onevery side, and I am gone… hecounteth me unto him as one of hisenemies” (19:6-12), “As God liveth,who hath taken away my judgment;and the Almighty, who hath vexedmy soul” (27:2).

By these complaints, Job implied thatGod was wrong and unjust and thathe did not deserve this greatsuffering. He did not know that hewas reproving His Maker andcondemning his God! However, Godwas gracious to him. God spoke tohim directly, showed him hisarrogant attitude and words, “Wiltthou also disannul my judgment?wilt thou condemn me, that thoumayest be righteous?” (40:8). Afterthat Job repented, abhorred himselfand repented in dust and ashes (Job42:6).

THOUGHT: God is always goodand right.PRAYER: Lord, help me not tomurmur or complain against You inany situation.

74

THURSDAY, JUNE 11GENESIS 50:14-21JOB 23:10

“When he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.”

GOLD HAS BEEN TRIED (6)

God had a higher purpose in Job’slife when He allowed Satan to touchhim and sift him. Satan wanted todestroy Job, but God built him up inthe knowledge of God and ofhimself. Job had known humansinful nature, but not deep enoughto abhor his “self” in humblerepentance until he encountered hisMaker, the holy and righteous God.Job had already known that whenGod tried him, he would come forthas gold. After having gone throughhis trials, Job did come forth as gold.He was refined from the dross ofself-will, self-righteousness, self-goodness, self-glory and self-justification. He did learn to humblysubmit to His Maker and Hissovereignty. Satan failed becauseJob did not curse God when hetempted Job through trials, throughthe foolish suggestion of Job’s wife,and through the false accusationsof Job’s three “friends.” God’s gracewas sufficient for Job to see himthrough the trials. Praise the Lord!

Through trials we will know moreabout God and ourselves. God isalways just, gracious, andsovereign. Is it true that God is neverunjust even if He puts all mankindin Hell? Absolutely true! If we reallyknow God’s righteousness, our totaldepravity, and our justificationbased on God’s grace in Christ’satonement alone, we will besubmissive to the Lord, knowingthat our sufferings are still muchlighter than the sufferings wedeserve in Hell! Only by this heart-knowledge can we give thanks tothe Lord and endure our trials.

Moreover, it is comforting toremember that trials from our justand loving Father are necessary forour spiritual life as we need to bepurged, refined, purified, andconformed to the image of our LordJesus Christ, who was humblysubmissive to His Father even untodeath.

THOUGHT: God wants me to be likeHis Son Jesus Christ.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for Yoursovereignty andYour gracious workin my life.

75

FRIDAY, JUNE 12JOHN 10:1-16JOHN 10:11

“I am the Good Shepherd.”

JESUS IS THE GOODSHEPHERD

Our Lord Jesus declares, “I am thegood shepherd: the good shepherdgiveth his life for the sheep” (John10:11), and this “I AM” statementreminds us of His covenant nameJehovah, the “I AM THAT I AM.”Truly, our Lord Jesus is the sameShepherd of His people in the past,in the present and forever, and wecan confess with trust like David,“The LORD is my shepherd; I shallnot want” (Ps 23:1). God’s Wordalso confirms that the Lord Jesus is“that great shepherd of the sheep”(Heb 13:20), and “the Shepherd andBishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25),and “ the chief Shepherd” (1 Peter5:4).

Sheep are naive, harmless,defenceless and simple animals.Without a shepherd, they easily goastray and are scattered here andthere (Matt 9:36). If the shepherddoes not seek the lost sheep andbring them back, they will perish asthey do not know how to seek theshepherd or go back to the fold bythemselves. The LORD says, “As ashepherd seeketh out his flock…,so will I seek out my sheep” (Eze34:12). The Lord Jesus says, “Andother sheep I have, which are not ofthis fold: them also I must bring, andthey shall hear my voice; and thereshall be one fold, and oneshepherd” (John 10:16).

It is vital for us to know, receive andtrust in our Lord Jesus Christ as ourgood Shepherd. He gave His life forus, seeking us, bringing us back toHis fold, taking care of us, guidingus and protecting us, “For ye wereas sheep going astray; but are nowreturned unto the Shepherd andBishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).Truly, Jesus says, “Ye have notchosen me, but I have chosen you”(John 15:16). Praise the Lord for Hisgoodness!

THOUGHT: A sheep cannot live byitself without the shepherd.PRAYER: O Lord, how I thank Youfor being my good Shepherd.

76

SATURDAY, JUNE 13PSALM 107:1-9JOHN 10:4

“He goeth before them.”

FOLLOW OUR SHEPHERD’SGUIDANCE (1)

Many a time in our lives we are soworried for not knowing whatdecision we should make, whichdirection we should take, where weshould go, what we should do orsay, how to solve the problems ordeal with difficulties, etc. Thank Godfor our good Shepherd, who alwaysgoes before us and faithfully leadsus in His right way step by step forHis name’s sake, “he calleth hisown sheep by name, and leadeththem out… he goeth before them,and the sheep follow him: for theyknow his voice” (John 10:3-4). Davidshared his experience, “he leadethme beside the still waters… heleadeth me in the paths ofrighteousness for his name’s sake”(Ps 23:2-3).

It is so encouraging to know that infollowing our Shepherd’s guidance,we are always led in “the way of theLORD” (Prov 10:29), “the way ofrighteousness” (Prov 8:20), “theway of life” (Prov 6:23), “the rightway” (Ps 107:7; 2 Peter 2:15), “theway everlasting” (Ps 139:24), “thenarrow way which leadeth untolife” (Matt 7:14), “the way of peace”(Luke 1:79), and “the way of truth”(2 Peter 2:2).

It is also so comforting to hear God’ssure promises to guide us. “I willinstruct thee and teach thee in theway which thou shalt go: I willguide thee with mine eye” (Ps 32:8). “I am the LORD thy God whichteacheth thee to profit, whichleadeth thee by the way that thoushouldest go” (Isa 48:17). “TheLORD shall guide thee continually”(Isa 58:11). When we recall what Godhas done in our lives, we shall praisethe Lord for graciously guiding usto Himself, to His truth, to Hissalvation, even guiding us where tostudy, work, live, worship and serveHim. Will you continue to trust inthe Lord and His faithful guidance?

THOUGHT: I do need the Lord’sguidance.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, forfaithfully leading me in Your rightway.

77

LORD’S DAY, JUNE 14PROVERBS 3:1-10JOHN 10:4

“The sheep follow him.”

FOLLOW OURSHEPHERD’S GUIDANCE (2)

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our goodShepherd who goes before us andleads us in His right way. How dowe enjoy His guidance?

Pray for His Guidance: “Teach methy way, O LORD, and lead me in aplain path” (Ps 27:11), and “Forthou art my rock and my fortress;therefore for thy name’s sake leadme, and guide me” (Ps 31:3). Do youearnestly and wholeheartedly prayfor God’s guidance?

Acknowledge the Lord: “In all thyways acknowledge him, and heshall direct thy paths” (Prov 3:6).Do you remember the Lord,acknowledge His Godhood,Lordship and sovereignty, and thenlook unto Him for His guidance sothat He may direct your paths?

Fear God and Be Teachable: “Themeek will he guide in judgment:…What man is he that feareth theLORD? Him shall he teach in theway that he shall choose” (Ps 25:9,12). The meek are those who arehumble, teachable and receptive toGod’s Word. How about the fear ofthe Lord? “The fear of the LORD isto hate evil: pride, and arrogancy,and the evil way, and the frowardmouth, do I hate” (Prov 8:13). Willyou fear God and be teachable andreceptive to His Word?

Commit to the Lord and Trust inHim: “Commit thy way unto theLORD; trust also in him; and heshall bring it to pass” (Ps 37:5). Evenwhen we do not see God’s will orHis way clearly, it is wise to commitourselves and everything to theLord, trust in Him and wait upon Him.

Following Jesus Step by Step: It isalways wise and safe to hear ourShepherd’s voice (God’s Word) andwalk after Him, step by step, one stepat a time (John 10:4,27).

THOUGHT: “My sheep hear myvoice, and I know them, and theyfollow me” (John 10:4,27).PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me towisely hear Your voice and followYou.

78

MONDAY, JUNE 15JOHN 10:25-30PSALM 127:1

“Except the LORD keep.”

TRUST IN OURSHEPHERD’S PROTECTION

(1)

As we greatly need and appreciateour Shepherd’s guidance in thisconfusing world of sin anddarkness, we also greatly need Hisprotection. The sheep are helplessand defenceless. They cannotprotect themselves and becomeeasy prey for the wild beasts. If theshepherd does not protect them,they are defenceless. The Lord Jesussays, “Behold, I send you forth assheep in the midst of wolves: be yetherefore wise as serpents, andharmless as doves” (Matt 10:16).Moreover, Satan is like “a roaringlion, walketh about, seeking whomhe may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).Without our Lord’s protection, weare defenseless victims of Satan!Truly, “Except the LORD build thehouse, they labour in vain thatbuild it: except the LORD keep thecity, the watchman waketh but invain” (Ps 127:1). Therefore, ourLord’s protection is always vital forus.

We thank the Lord Jesus for He isour true, good and caring Shepherd.Jesus is not an hireling, “whose ownthe sheep are not, seeth the wolfcoming, and leaveth the sheep, andfleeth: and the wolf catcheth them,and scattereth the sheep. Thehireling fleeth, because he is anhireling, and careth not for thesheep” (John 10:12-13), but He trulyloves, cares, protects His sheep, andeven “giveth his life for the sheep”(John 10:11). He will never leave norforsake us (Heb 13:5), and Hepromises, “And I give unto themeternal life; and they shall neverperish, neither shall any man pluckthem out of my hand. My Father,which gave them me, is greater thanall; and no man is able to pluckthem out of my Father’s hand. I andmy Father are one” (John 10:28-30).We are safe in our Shepherd’smighty hand and our loving Father’shand. Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: I am really safe in theLord and in His hand.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You foryour faithful and mighty protection.

79

TUESDAY, JUNE 16PSALM 121PSALM 121:7

“The LORD

shall preserve thee.”

TRUST IN OURSHEPHERD’S PROTECTION

(2)

In perilous time, how can we be surethat God’s protection is perfect? Hissure and perfect Word says so!

God’s Promises to Keep Us: BesidesJesus’ promise to protect us (John10:28-29), God also has promised tokeep us, e.g. “The LORD is thykeeper… The LORD shall preservethee from all evil: he shall preservethy soul… The LORD shall preservethy going out and thy coming infrom this time forth, and even forevermore” (Ps 121:5,7,8). Do wewholeheartedly trust in God’sprecious promises?

God’s Power to Keep Us: Ouralmighty Lord is able to keep usperfectly and forever by His power:“Who are kept by the power of Godthrough faith unto salvation” (1Peter 1:5). And He “is able to keepyou from falling” (Jude 1:24). Praisethe Lord!

God’s Faithfulness to Keep Us: “Butthe Lord is faithful, who shallstablish you, and keep you fromevil” (2 Thess 3:3). Praise the Lord!

Jesus’ Atonement and Prayer forUs: We are perfectly preservedforever not because of ourgoodness, merits or cleverness butbecause of our Lord’s atoningsacrifice and prayer: “Wherefore heis able also to save them to theuttermost that come unto God byhim, seeing he ever liveth to makeintercession for them… For by oneoffering he hath perfected for everthem that are sanctified” (Heb 7:25;10:14). Our Lord is still praying toHis Father, “Holy Father, keepthrough thine own name thosewhom thou hast given me…keepthem from the evil” (John 17:11, 15).He is praying for us, as He prayedfor Peter, “But I have prayed forthee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke22:32). Dear friends, we can standfirm now in the Lord because of ourLord’s faithfulness, power andprayers! Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: Thank and praise theLord for His faithful protection.PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, formightily, faithfully, and prayerfullyprotecting me.

80

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17JAMES 4:1-10MATTHEW 26:41

“Watch and pray.”

TRUST IN OURSHEPHERD’S PROTECTION

(3)

Our Lord is able to keep us foreverbased on His promises, power,faithfulness, atonement andprayers. What should we do in orderto enjoy His protection?

Be Cautious, Prayerful and HideOurselves in Christ: We cannot takeour Lord’s protection for grantedand do whatever we like or gowherever we want. It is a sin to temptor test God! Satan tempted the LordJesus by asking Him to jump downfrom the pinnacle of the temple.Satan quoted God’s promise, “Heshall give his angels charge overthee, to keep thee” (Luke 4:9-10), butour Lord did not fall into Satan’strap. Jesus answered, “It is said,Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thyGod” (v 12). We cannot drivecarelessly and expect God to protectus. We cannot tempt God bywatching ungodly movies/TVprogrammes, reading ungodly/unbiblical articles, surfing ungodly/unbiblical websites or going toplaces full of temptations and thenexpect God to keep us fromdefilement, sin and evil! Our Lordresisted Satan until he fled away. Wehave to do the same, “Submityourselves therefore to God. Resistthe devil, and he will flee from you”(James 4:7). Dear friends, we are tokeep ourselves (1 John 5:18), to “besober, be vigilant” (1 Peter 5:8), to“watch and pray” (Matt 26:41) andto hide ourselves “in Jesus Christ”(Jude 1; cf. Ps 91:1).

Live in God’s Presence: To be keptfrom sin and evil, we are to walk inGod’s light and practise living inGod’s presence everywhere and allthe time. “I have set the LORDalways before me: because he is atmy right hand, I shall not bemoved” (Ps 16:8). “But if we walkin the light, as he is in the light, wehave fellowship one with another,and the blood of Jesus Christ hisSon cleanseth us from all sin” (1John 1:7).

THOUGHT: I must cautiously andprayerfully resist Satan.PRAYER: Lord, help me hide myselfin You and live in Your presencealways.

81

THURSDAY, JUNE 18PSALM 91PSALM 145:20

TRUST IN OURSHEPHERD’S PROTECTION

(4)

Commit Ourselves and Everythingto the Lord: God only keeps whatwe have committed to Him. If I askyou to keep my key, but I do notpass it to you, you cannot help me.Many pray to God to keep them, butthey have not committedthemselves to the Lord. Their livesare not the Lord’s. They still dowhatever they like and go whereverthey want, then how can God keepthem? It is wise for us to commit ourlives and everything to the Lord, “Iknow whom I have believed, andam persuaded that he is able tokeep that which I have committedunto him against that day” (2Tim1:12).

Trust in God’s Faithful Protection:To enjoy God’s protection, we areto trust in His promises andprotection “for whatsoever is not offaith is sin” (Rom 14:23). Truly,“Thou wilt keep him in perfectpeace, whose mind is stayed on thee:because he trusteth in thee” (Isa26:3; Ps 91). Will you not wisely trustin our almighty and faithful God?

Love God and Keep His Word: Toenjoy God’s protection, we mustlove Him and keep His Word. “TheLORD preserveth all them that lovehim” (Ps 145:20). “Because thou hastkept the word of my patience, I alsowill keep thee from the hour oftemptation” (Rev 3:10). Will you notwisely love God and keep His Word?(John 14:23).

Be Kind to the Needy: “Blessed ishe that considereth the poor: theLORD will deliver him in time oftrouble. The LORD will preservehim, and keep him alive” (Ps 41:1-2; cf. Prov 19:17). May the Lord fillus with His love so that we mayshow His love to the needy,especially bringing them to our goodShepherd.

THOUGHT: I am safe because mylife is the Lord’s.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me loveYou, trust in You and keep YourWord.

82

FRIDAY, JUNE 19PSALM 23PSALM 23:1

“The LORD is my shepherd.”

IS THE LORD YOURSHEPHERD?

David confessed his trust, “TheLORD is my shepherd; I shall notwant” (Ps 23:1). What about us?

We have learnt that the Lord JesusChrist is our good Shepherd, whoreally loves us, cares for us, leadsus, protects us and gives His life forus. But that is only our head-knowledge if we have not trusted inHim and acknowledged Him as “myShepherd” personally. What does itmean when we confess, “The LORDis my shepherd”?

First, I acknowledge Jesus’ DivineLordship as my eternal Jehovah andmy Shepherd. I confess that I reallyneed and wholeheartedly trust in myLord’s loving care, guidance andprotection, from which I shall haveall I need, both my spiritual needs,“He restoreth my soul… thouanointest my head with oil; my cuprunneth over” (Ps 23:3,5) “life…more abundantly” (John 10:10) andmy physical needs, “having allsufficiency in all things” (2 Cor 9:8;cf. 1 Tim 6:8,17).

Then, I confess that I am the Lord’ssheep, and this means I truly commitmy life to the Lord, belong to Him,and submit to His leadership,guidance, and discipline. I will notrun before Him or listen to strangers’voices, but I “know his voice”(God’s Word) and only hear Hisvoice and walk after Him alone withmy full trust and confidence, “Yea,though I walk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I will fear noevil: for thou art with me; thy rodand thy staff they comfort me” (Ps23:4).

Finally, I put my hope and trust inmy Lord’s goodness and mercy formy life and my eternal future withHim, “Surely goodness and mercyshall follow me all the days of mylife: and I will dwell in the house ofthe LORD for ever” (Ps 23:6).

THOUGHT: “The LORD is myshepherd.”PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, forbeing my Divine Shepherd.

83

SATURDAY, JUNE 20EPHESIANS 4:1-16COLOSSIANS 1:18

“He is the head

of the body, the church.”

JESUS IS THE HEAD OFTHE CHURCH

It is vital for us to know our LordJesus Christ, depend on Him, submitto Him and maintain our livingfellowship with Him personally.However, we cannot ignore theother children of God. If we are bornof God we shall also love those whoare born of Him (1 John 5:1). OurLord Jesus Christ has many brethren(Rom 8:29; Heb 2:11-12), and manysheep in His fold (John 10:16), andmany members in His body (1 Cor12:12). He wants all the members tosubmit to Him, the Head, to beunited, take care of one another andedify one another until “all come inthe unity of the faith, and of theknowledge of the Son of God, untoa perfect man, unto the measure ofthe stature of the fulness of Christ…grow up into him in all things,which is the head, even Christ”(Eph 4:13, 15).

God’s Word confirms that the LordJesus Christ is the Head of the Body,the Church. “And he is the head ofthe body, the church: who is thebeginning, the firstborn from thedead; that in all things he mighthave the preeminence” (Col 1:18 cf.Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23). And there isonly one Body (Eph 4:4). Despitethe many denominations in theworld, before God there is only onetrue Church, invisible and universal,comprising His truly born-againbelievers, who are His true childrenor true sheep, keeping a livingfellowship and connection with Him,like the branches to the Vine or themembers of the body to the Head.Our Lord’s Church is built on thefoundation of Himself and God’sWord (Matt 16:18; Eph 2:20). Weshould wisely attend a Christ-centred and Bible-centred church soas to be edified and blessed.

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ alone isthe Head of the Church.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbuilding Your Church.

84

LORD’S DAY, JUNE 211 CORINTHIANS 12: 12-311 CORINTHIANS 12:27

“Ye are the body of Christ.”

YE ARE THE BODY OFCHRIST

Jesus Christ is the Head of theChurch, controlling and directingHis members to act properlyaccording to His mind and will. It isa great blessing to enjoy theguidance, direction, and loving careof our Divine Head. “Christ alsoloved the church and gave himselffor it…nourisheth and cherishethit, even as the Lord the church”(Eph 5:25,29). God desires and is ableto join all members together in unityas long as they all submit to JesusChrist the Head and His Word anddo their parts faithfully (1 Cor 12).

Subject to the Head: The body hasonly one Head, and “the church issubject unto Christ” (Eph 5:23-24).Sadly, there is division in manychurches nowadays, caused bychurch leaders and members who arenot fully submitted to the Lord JesusChrist and God’s Word. They donot practise Biblical Separation intheir lives nor in their ministry, butcompromise with wrong doctrines,sins, and worldliness.

Do One’s Part Faithfully: God doesnot count how much we have donefor Him but how faithfully we do ourpart according to His will (Matt 25:21,23). In God’s sight, a faithful prayer,worshipper or helper is much betterthan an unfaithful pastor, preacheror teacher who is not fully submittedto Him and His Word.

Belong to One Another and NeedOne Another: “Ye are the body ofChrist” (1 Cor 12:27). “Ye” here inplural denotes many members. Thebody cannot have only one member,“the eye cannot say unto the hand,I have no need of thee” (vv 15, 21).We need Christ our Head as well asone another.

Care for One Another: All the partsin our body are related to oneanother and affect one another, sothe members should care for oneanother and pray for one another (1Cor 12:25-26).

THOUGHT: We need Christ. Wealso need God’s true children.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me tosubmit to You and Your Wordalways.

85

MONDAY, JUNE 22ROMANS 7:14-25COLOSSIANS 3:11

“Christ is all, and in all.”

CHRIST IS ALL, AND INALL

True believers are those whoacknowledge their sins, sincerelyrepent and receive the Lord JesusChrist as their personal Lord andSaviour, but not all experience thatthe Lord is their All.

After being saved, they read theScriptures and hear messages fromGod’s Word, and “grow in grace,and in the knowledge of our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter3:18). They understand that Godwants them to be holy, perfect,humble, gentle, patient, loving,faithful, as the Lord Jesus is. Theypray so hard that the Lord may grantthem faith, love, peace, joy, strength,holiness, faithfulness and manyother spiritual virtues. As the yearsgo by, they may think that they aremore mature, godly, holy, humble,and more like Christ, but if thosespiritual qualities are from their ownefforts and strength, they are nottrue nor long lasting. Their spirituallife has ups and downs. Sometimes,they are spiritually strong and godly.Other times, they are weak andcarnal. They experience conflicts intheir life and acknowledge theircorrupt and depraved nature. LikePaul, they cry, “For I know that inme (that is, in my flesh,) dwellethno good thing: for to will is presentwith me; but how to perform thatwhich is good I find not… Owretched man that I am! who shalldeliver me from the body of thisdeath?” (Rom 7:18, 24). Throughall these, they find the answer in theLord Jesus Christ. “I thank Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord” (v25). Truly, it is through the LordJesus Christ Himself alone, their Alland in All (Col 3:11). And they startto learn to die to their “self” andsubmit to the Lord and His Wordand find true peace, joy and victoryin Himself alone.

Is the Lord Jesus Christ your All?

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ is All Ineed.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbeing All I need.

86

TUESDAY, JUNE 23COLOSSIANS 3:1-11GALATIANS 2:20

“Not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

NOT I, BUT CHRIST

In God’s sight, “there is neitherGreek nor Jew, circumcision noruncircumcision, Barbarian,Scythian, bond nor free: but Christis all, and in all” ( Col 3:11) and“there is neither male nor female:for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”(Gal 3:28). In order that “Christ isall, and in all,” our “self” must becrucified with Christ, “Not I, butChrist” (Gal 2:20), no more racialdiscrimination (Greek or Gentile, orJew), no more difference in cultureor civilisation (Barbarian orScythian), no more inequality insocial status or position (bond orfree), and no more sex discrimination(male or female), but “Christ is all,and in all” and we are “all one inChrist Jesus.”

Dear friends, we come from differentcountries and differentbackgrounds, but if each one of uscan say, “I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, butChrist liveth in me,” then Christ isliving in us, and Christ will be all,and in all.

That is the cross and self-denial weare to take up daily to follow ourLord Jesus Christ, “If any man willcome after me, let him deny himself,and take up his cross daily, andfollow me” (Luke 9:23). To deal withour sinful nature, the biblical way isto keep it dead and not to revive it.There is no other way, “For ye aredead, and your life is hid withChrist in God… Mortify thereforeyour members which are upon theearth...” (Col 3:3,5). Do we die dailyso that we may not think of our “self”any more, no more “I am holy, I amspiritual, I am better, I am humble, Iam wise, etc.” but Christ alone is all,and in all.

THOUGHT: Human sinful naturecannot be improved. It has to becrucified with Christ.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please controlme and manifest Your life in me andthrough me.

87

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 242 CORINTHIANS 4:7-18COLOSSIANS 3:4

“Christ, who is our life.”

CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE

No one can live a true Christian lifewithout Christ. We can neither havetrue love, true holiness, truerighteousness, true wisdom, truefaith, true peace, nor have truehappiness without Christ. Our LordJesus confirms, “without me ye cando nothing” (John 15:5). God’sWord says, “For ye are dead, andyour life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ, who is our life, shallappear, then shall ye also appearwith him in glory” (Col 3:3-4). Asonly Christ’s life is true, instead oftrying to love those who despise oroffend us personally, we should askour Lord to manifest His true lovethrough us. Instead of trying toovercome temptations by ourselves,we should ask our Lord to manifestHis true holiness and overcometemptations through us. Instead oftrying to humble ourselves, weshould ask our Lord to manifest Histrue humility through us. “Alwaysbearing about in the body thedying of the Lord Jesus, that the lifealso of Jesus might be made manifestin our body” (2 Cor 4:10). OurChristian life is Christ’s true lifemanifested through our body.

Although our sinful nature has beencrucified with Christ, it does nottotally disappear, but is onlysubdued by the Lord and by His lifein us. Our sinful nature is like gravity(instead of the force of gravity, it isthe force of sin), always pulling usdown when we are weak, but as longas we are spiritually healthy andstrong in God’s Word and by beingattached to the powerful life ofChrist, our True Vine, moment bymoment, we shall not be influencedor pulled down by our sinful nature.“For the law of the Spirit of life inChrist Jesus hath made me free fromthe law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2).Praise the Lord!

THOUGHT: Only Christ’s life is true.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You forbeing my true Life.

88

THURSDAY, JUNE 25JOHN 13:1-17JOHN 13:15

“I have given you an example.”

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR

PERFECT EXAMPLE

Many just blindly follow their“leaders” who may not believe in orsubmit to the Lord Jesus Christ andGod’s Word! God’s purpose is that“Christ is all, and in all” (Col 3:11)and that His children are “to beconformed to the image of his Son”(Rom 8:29). Then, we are to look atour Lord Jesus Christ, our perfectExample, and just follow Him even ifthe majority or many others do not.“For I have given you an example,that ye should do as I have done toyou” (John 13:15). “For evenhereunto were ye called: becauseChrist also suffered for us, leavingus an example, that ye shouldfollow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

How can we see Jesus Christ as ourperfect Example? It is through God’sperfectly inspired and perfectlypreserved Word and through theHoly Spirit. Our Lord Jesus says,“Search the scriptures…and theyare they which testify of me” (John5:39), and “But when the Comforteris come, whom I will send unto youfrom the Father, even the Spirit oftruth, which proceedeth from theFather, he shall testify of me…Heshall glorify me: for he shall receiveof mine, and shall shew it unto you”(John 15:26; 16:14). Our part is toseek the Lord first in prayers and todiligently read and study God’sWord, the Scriptures, prayerfullywith sincere faith and humblesubmission, and the Holy Spirit willhelp us see and know more aboutthe Lord Jesus Christ so that we maylook unto Him and follow Him byHis grace and strength.

It is wise for us to always look toour Lord Jesus Christ, our perfectExample, and compare ourselveswith Him, not with others, so thatwe may see our shortcomings andhumbly press on toward the goal -to be like Christ.

THOUGHT: Jesus Christ is ourperfect Example.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help mewisely follow You alone, my perfectExample.

89

FRIDAY, JUNE 26JOHN 17:1-10JOHN 17:4

“I have glorified

thee on the earth.”

JESUS’ PURPOSE IN LIFE(1)

Our Lord Jesus has clear purposesin His life and ministry:

To Glorify God the Father: Jesusprays to His Father, “I have glorifiedthee on the earth” (John 17:4).“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,or whatsoever ye do, do all to theglory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Do weglorify Him too?

To Do the Father’s Will and FinishHis Work: Jesus says, “For I camedown from heaven, not to do mineown will, but the will of him thatsent me” (John 6:38), and “My meatis to do the will of him that sent me,and to finish his work” (John 4:34)and “I have finished the work whichthou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).Many are so busy doing their ownwork even in “serving the Lord.”The truth is that only when we doour Lord’s work according to His willand His way will our labour be notburnt up or be in vain (1 Cor 3:15;15:58).

To Bear Witness of the Truth: Jesussays, “To this end was I born, andfor this cause came I into the world,that I should bear witness unto thetruth” (John 18:37). To bear witnessof the truth is to bear witness of theLord Jesus, who is the Truth, andGod’s Word, which is Truth. Howcan we bear witness of the truth ifwe still doubt, question, or criticizeGod’s Word?

To Minister: Jesus says, “Even asthe Son of man came not to beministered unto, but to minister, andto give his life a ransom for many”(Matt 20:28), and “If I then, yourLord and Master, have washed yourfeet; ye also ought to wash oneanother’s feet” (John 13:14). If wehave a purpose to serve, we shallnot be sad, discouraged or offendedwhen our labour is ignored or notappreciated.

THOUGHT: What is my purpose inlife?PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me followYour Example.

90

SATURDAY, JUNE 272 TIMOTHY 2:1-101 TIMOTHY 1:15

“Christ Jesus came …

to save sinners.”

JESUS’ PURPOSE IN LIFE(2)

To Preach the Gospel and SaveSinners: Jesus says, “Let us go intothe next towns that I may preachthere also: for therefore came Iforth” (Mark 1:37-38), and “I am notcome to call the righteous, butsinners to repentance” (Matt 9:13).Paul gave his testimony, “ChristJesus came into the world to savesinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim1:15). This is Jesus’ GreatCommission, “Go ye therefore, andteach all nations, baptizing themin the name of the Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all thingswhatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway” (Matt28:19-20). Shall we not follow ourLord Jesus’ example and fulfil HisGreat Commission?

To Train the Saved to Continue HisWork: Unlike many “leaders” today,Jesus did not focus on or boastabout the number of followers Hehas. Instead, He focused on thefaithful men who could continue Hiswork after His ascension. “Heordained twelve, that they shouldbe with him, and that he might sendthem forth to preach” (Mark 3:14).Paul followed Jesus’ example andexhorted Timothy, “And the thingsthat thou hast heard of me amongmany witnesses, the same committhou to faithful men, who shall beable to teach others also” (2 Tim2:2). It is better to train one trueChristian who is submissive to theLord and His Word and serves Himfaithfully than to have hundreds orthousands of professing Christianswho are not faithful or submissiveto the Lord and His Word. We thankGod for the sound teaching andfaithful training of the Far EasternBible College in these last days ofcompromise and apostasy. Shall wenot follow our Lord Jesus’ exampleand train faithful men to continueour Lord’s work before we are calledhome to be with the Lord?

THOUGHT: Who will continue theLord’s work?PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me fulfilYour Great Commission.

91

LORD’S DAY, JUNE 281 PETER 2:21-251 PETER 2:21

“Ye should follow his steps.”

FOLLOW JESUS’ STEPS (1)

Our Lord Jesus Christ has set aperfect Example for us to follow evenin His sufferings, “For evenhereunto were ye called: becauseChrist also suffered for us, leavingus an example, that ye shouldfollow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).What are His sufferings?

- Jesus was despised and rejectedalthough He was the holy Godand the Creator (Isa 53:3).

- Jesus was hated, persecuted,blasphemed and evil spoken ofalthough He lived a perfect lifeand served His Father faithfullyaccording to His Father’s will(John 5:16, 18; 7:7, 12; 9:24; 10:20).

- Jesus was betrayed, forsakenand denied (Mark 14:50; John13:21; 18:17, 25-27).

- Jesus was exceeding sorrowfulunto death (Mark 14:34).

- Jesus was tortured, smitten andcrucified (Matt 26 and 27).

- Jesus was misjudged andthought to be punished by God(Matt 27:43; Isa 53:4).

- Jesus was burdened with thesins of all mankind (1 Peter 2:24;1 John 2:2), and it seems that Hisholy Father turned His face fromHis dearly beloved Son at themoment when all thewickedness, sins,unrighteousness, iniquities, andtransgressions of human beings,including yours and mine, wereupon the Lord Jesus. Jesus cried“My God, my God, why hastthou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46).

Dear friends, we can never fullyunderstand how great and deepChrist’s sufferings were. That it isnot because of His faults, butbecause of our sins. It is because ofChrist’s love and our salvation thatHe suffered for us. May His loveconstrain us to willingly be“partakers of Christ’s sufferings” (1Peter 4:13) and may the Lord help usnot to be offended or give up ourfaith when we are despised, rejected,evil spoken of, persecuted, betrayed,forsaken, misjudged, or even put todeath.

THOUGHT: There is a price to payin order to follow Jesus’ steps.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me countit a privilege to follow Your steps.

92

MONDAY, JUNE 291 PETER 4:12-191 PETER 4:19

“Suffer according

to the will of God.”

FOLLOW JESUS’ STEPS (2)

Knowing Jesus Christ’s sufferingsfor us and the price of following Hissteps, what are our proper attitudeswhen we are suffering because ofour Lord, His name or His Word?

Be not surprised nor ashamed :“Think it not strange concerningthe fiery trial which is to try you, asthough some strange thinghappened unto you” (1 Peter 4:12)and “Yet if any man suffer as aChristian, let him not be ashamed”(4:16). Our Lord Jesus says,“Remember the word that I saidunto you, the servant is not greaterthan his lord. If they have persecutedme, they will also persecute you”(John 15: 20).

Dear friends, if we are determined tolive according to God’s Wordwithout any compromise and topractise Biblical separation from sin,worldliness and unbiblical doctrines,we shall surely encounter hatred,opposition and persecutions fromthe world and even from professingChristians. May the Lord help usnot to be surprised nor ashamedwhen we are despised, rejected, orpersecuted because of Him.

Suffer according to God’s will:Jesus suffered according to HisFather’s will. We should not sufferbecause of our sins “as a murderer,or as a thief, or as an evil doer, oras a busybody in other men’smatter” (1 Peter 4:15), but only“suffer according to the will of God”(4:19), which means to suffer for thename of Christ (4:14), as a Christian(4:16), for Jesus’ sake (Matt 5:11),for righteousness’ sake (3:14; Matt5:10), for good conduct in Christ andfor well doing (3:16-17), for a goodconscience toward God (2:19; 3:16;Acts 23:1; 24:16); for the gospel(Mark 8:35), and for the word of Godand the testimony of Christ (Rev 1:9;Mark 4:17).

Are you suffering according toGod’s will?

THOUGHT: We must be preparedto suffer for our Lord and His Word.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me onlysuffer according to God’s will.

93

TUESDAY, JUNE 30HEBREWS 12:1-11HEBREWS 12:2

“Looking unto Jesus.”

FOLLOW JESUS’ STEPS (3)

Look unto the Lord and follow Hissteps: It is vital for us to look to ourLord in order to be strengthened,encouraged, comforted and carriedthrough by His grace: “Lookingunto Jesus the author and finisherof our faith; who for the joy that wasset before him endured the cross,despising the shame, and is setdown at the right hand of the throneof God. For consider him thatendured such contradiction ofsinners against himself, lest ye bewearied and faint in your minds”(Heb 12:2-3).

Rejoice and glorify God: Weshould rejoice and glorify God evenin sufferings according to God’s willbecause (1) it is God’s glory, “thespirit of glory and of God restethupon you: on their part he is evilspoken of, but on your part he isglorified” (1 Peter 4:14). (2) it is ourgreat privilege (Phil 1:29); (3) weshall know our Lord more and the “fellowship of his sufferings” (Phil3:10); (4) we shall be more refined insufferings (1 Peter 1:7; 4:1; Job 23:10)and “may be counted worthy of thekingdom of God” (2 Thess 1:5); (5)we will be comforted and moremature to comfort others insufferings (2 Cor 1:4); (6) it is “notworthy to be compared with” the“far more exceeding and eternalweight of glory” (Rom 8:18; 2 Cor4:17); and (7) it is the Lord’s commandwith His reward: “Rejoice (Keep onrejoicing) , and be exceeding glad:for great is your reward in heaven”(Matt 5:12), and “If we suffer, weshall also reign with him” (2 Tim2:12).

Trust in God and commiteverything to Him: Jesus“committed himself to him thatjudgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23),so we also trust in the Lord andcommit everything to Him (1 Peter4:19).

THOUGHT: It is vital to look to ourLord Jesus Christ.PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me lookto You and keep on following Youuntil the end.