Finding The Lost Pokémon

If the latest craze has hit your country, you probably would have known it by now. The Pokémon Go game that has swept the world over with such a phenomenal effect never before seen. For the uninitiated (including myself, and I researched. And I watched friends go “child-like” with the game too), in very simple terms, it is a location-based augmented reality game on mobile devices, with the objective of finding and locating Pokémon creatures. And upon finding them, you are suppose to catch, and then look after and train them, developing into champions. Many players have gone through great distances and troubles to find these Pokémon creatures, some rare and precious. Huge sacrifices of time and effort were made to find them. Unfortunately, some at the expense of their personal safety.

However, I did see something very familiar and very dear.

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’   Luke 15:3-6

There is One who first went through great distances (crossing heaven to earth), with great effort and difficulty, even fatally bruising His own body, and finally sacrificing ultimately Himself-His own life on the cross in exchange, just to seek and keep this very rare and precious creature that He loves. And all He wish for is to look after and develop that creature to be a champion.

And that creature is, YOU!

 

… And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. (Luke 15:5)

 

 

Pika.. Pika.. Pikachu, anyone?

 

Kingdom Of Heaven Looking

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:43-46‬ ‭NLT ‬

 

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The past week has been the most eventful; no, I’m not talking about the Euro-Cup. 🙂

There is a great ongoing shaking in the world now. An established first-world, democratic nation has turned his back on his fellows; closing the front door permanently. Probably fueled by fear and flesh, xenophobia and even racism; reversing introspectively and with self-occupation. World leaders are scratching their heads, not knowing what to do. Rumors of predicted famines and economic tumblings abounds. Even one of the best from the human race, with it’s proud heritage, establishments and achievements, has again demonstrated that mankind are unpredictable.

At the opposite end of the world as well as spectrum, I have the honor and privilege to witness shaking of another, a spiritual shaking. In a third-world country, without even modern toilet facilities at some areas, large multitudes who opened their doors (philosophically because their huts have no doors) and hearts welcoming the Kingdom of Heaven. The King of kings and Lord of lords, Himself, came with His blessings and offerings of salvation and eternal life!

Through humble and grace-filled servers who are heavenward-looking and selfless; from different ages, different nations, different genders, different cultures and backgrounds, coming together as one people-one body; spreading the gospel and Good News of Jesus Christ; and carried with them an outpouring of grace and love to anyone who is willing to accept.

The harvest is so plentiful and so ready!

To me, the contrast is stark and sobering. You see, the Kingdom of God will come down to anyone who is willing to open his door of his heart; tumbling down walls of obstacles and hearts of stone. Even in the worst living conditions, people who received Jesus Christ into their hearts can still be filled with such heavenly glory.

Which side do you belong to?

Biblical Hero’s Statement of Faith

Someone forwarded me this; I really liked it and have built on it. You see, many heroes from the bible have these defining moments in time where, what they spoken or declared in a statement of faith, raised them up, setting them apart in exalting the Lord. It expresses their relationship with God, their faith and their perspective that we all would like to model from.

More importantly, it shows us what a God we have and, really, what a God!

What would you tell yourself every morning as you start the day or whenever you faced a challenge ahead?

Abel would say, “The best portions is for the Lord.”

Noah would say, “I will do exactly what the Lord has commanded.”

Enoch would say, “I will not see death as I’m walking in close fellowship with God.”

Abraham said, “The Lord will provide.”

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter.”

Isaac said, “Where is the Lamb?”

Jacob said, “I won’t let go of You unless You bless me.”

Joseph said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”

Moses said, “Lord, if You don’t go with us or before us, we are not going anywhere.”

Rehab said, “The Lord is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”

Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Gideon said, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory.”

Samson prayed, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time.”

Ruth said, “Wherever you go, I will go.”

Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.”

Solomon said, “Give me an understanding heart.”

Isaiah said, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”

Jeremiah said, “The Lord has plans to prosper me and not to harm or fail me.”

Jabez said, “Oh, that you may bless me and enlarge my territory.”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said, “We will not bow down to any image but will serve the Lord.”

Ezekiel said, “Any dry bones in my life, live again.”

Peter said, “I will cast my cares upon the Lord for He cares.”

John said, “I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.”

Paul said, “The Lord will supply all my needs and I can do all things through Christ.”

 

*Choose your daily statement of faith. Meditate on it! Speak it!*

Happy Thoughts!

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. […] Then the God of peace will be with you.   Philippians 4:8-9

We are coming to the end of the year and it is the time where we are feeling festive and blissful. We put down the bad and the ugly behind,  looking forward to a new beginning. And that’s really good. The bible says, fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, what is right and what is pure and lovely. What is admirable and things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

You see, we are being constantly ‘bombarded’ by terrors, uncertainty, diseases/viruses, and so many other negative things, that if we dont have a counter, we will then go on a slow spiral down into depression and sickness. Your mind will be trouble, your spirit will be down and finally sickness appears for a final countdown.

Happy thoughts!

That’s what the world can offer at best, keeping fixing on whatever happy thoughts you can gather and keep replaying in your mind. But dear brother and sisters, we have something even more power and everlasting. What is more true and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and worthy of praise?

It is this: That God, Christ Jesus, Himself, left and gave up His own majesty and divinity to come into this world. Willing suffered at the hands of the very creation He wanted to save. To redeem us from our sin by taking our sin on Himself and suffered its consequences. After exhausting all the judgement and punishments on our behalf, Christ Jesus died a sorrowful death.

By His death – we are given life, by His strips – we are healed, by his sorrows – we rejoice. Out of love, to save you and I from eternal damnation. Think of such thoughts:

• That you are so preciously loved that Christ Jesus so willing to die in your place.
• That God will redeem you out of whatever bad situation you are in because He had redeemed you from the worst.
• That God Himself will restore what you have lost and will be above what you have originally lost.
• That Christ has done all that needs to be done, we are rest fully in His perfect work.
• That you are not caringly nurtured, truly blessed,  and highly favored because you are children of the Almighty God.
• That you are forever, saved and redeemed for eternity in heaven, a place Christ personally are preparing for you.
• That we have such an awesome and wonderful God that is so worthy of praise.

Such are the happy (excellent) thoughts!

Have a blessed Christmas full of revelation of Christ Jesus!

Through Christ

Recently, I haven’t had much time to write, ponder or reflect. I probably have been too caught up by the world too. But the Lord is so good that I have is this wonderfully nudging about “Through Christ”, that I just cannot not ignore.

God, the Father is holy beyond reach of us mere sinful humans; the Holy Spirit is invisible and silent. That is, why Jesus Christ came and He is the very visible image or representation of the invisible God (Col :15). There is just no way for lowly human beings to reach out to a high holy God. A simple bible search of “through Christ” yields 70 very powerful passages:

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:36

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 1:4

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:8

[ Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome ] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

Romans 2:16

This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Romans 3:22

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:25

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Romans 5:1

[ Peace and Hope ] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:11

Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord JesusChrist, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:12

[ Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ ] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Romans 5:17

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:21

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:4

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 7:4

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

Romans 7:25

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 8:1

[ Life Through the Spirit ] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:2

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 9:1

[ Paul’s Anguish Over Israel ] I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 15:18

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—

Romans 15:19

by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Romans 16:27

to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:15

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

 

The entire victorious Christian living; in fact, the key to the gospel is found within these 70 Scriptures. Christianity is not designed to be difficult. The Lord did not put His gift of eternal heavenly salvation as a trophy high on the podium, only for ‘champions’ who can manage to attain. This is not only impossible, but a ultimate lie.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

But Jesus Christ came, and deliver that trophy personally. Through His bloodied hands…

 

Keeping An Eye on Missions -> Feeding Children (Cambodia)

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’   Matthew 25:35-36

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I had the privilege of paying a visit to a dear missionary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Visiting their work in the field was an experience that still have me pondering with my own life’s priorities and soul-searching on my life’s journey. It was a sudden awakening from a (first world) bubble wrap into the sad reality of the real (third) world. Much of what we have taken for granted as basic and a necessity is “godsend” in some parts of the world.

It is quite unimaginable for young children to grow up literally on piles of rubbish and playing in dirt. These children have no clean water to drink or enough food to eat, most are scruffy and dirty. Birthed into impoverished families, they have no school and at a young age, they are forced to help provide for their families by scavenging through rubbish or work as child-labour.

On the contrary, we are so blessed but yet materialistically clamouring for more. For me, it took a rubbish dump site (where families lived), some simple food for feeding and the children’s laughter to provoke me into repentance. You see, we just cannot turn a blind eye to the abject poverty in our (prosperous) midst; the elephant in the room. We cannot deny what God, and the Holy Spirit who is in us, wants to do; to help out in whatever way we can. We just cannot bask in the glory of the Lord, overflowing with love and grace we have received through Christ, and yet do nothing at all. This is because Christ’s compassion for the needy is also bursting from within.

Our Lord Jesus fed the 5,000 in the gospels because he had compassion on them. More importantly, He fed the people through His disciples (Matthew 14:13-21). Similarly, we are His current disciples here on earth. Dear God’s beloveds, it is now up to you and me… to spread the Lord’s goodness through us. 

 

Who I Am in Christ

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You that You have made me to be of the fragrance of Christ to God the Father and to other people around. Help me to bring the aroma and refreshing of Your Spirit to those who are don’t know You. To bring Your goodness and salvation to those yet to be saved by You. In their lack of knowledge and understanding of You, give me the chance that they can see You in me. Thank You that You are a God who can be known, and You share who You are with me because You love me. I love, serve, and worship You because You first loved and serve us. Help me to share all of You that You have put in me with others, that they too see Your amazing love.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.   To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.   And who is sufficient for these things?   For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17

The All Of God’s Grace To You

And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].   2 Corinthians 9:8

Our Lord is such a good God. 

In the world, the principle to get good blessings is for people to do good deeds. But if they did something wrong, then all hell demands pay back and punishments. Most people simply hoped that their “good works” is slightly more than their bad; so just enough for them to get away with it or to hopefully squeeze through the cracks at the pearly gates. 

However, that’s just not the way to live…

Instead, the Lord took our weaknesses, our sorrows and our pains. He took our punishment for our sins and rebellion against the righteous God, the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son took all our wrongdoings at the cross exposing Himself to death, so that we can be counted righteous and able to reconcile eternally with the Father.

And as if like that is not enough, God still generously provide all earthly grace; on top of the divine grace of salvation at the cross. We are not only living a life that is not guilty of any sins, wrongdoings or even inadequate right-doings; we are living a life that is fully provided and taken care for! 

And because we are so blessed and are prospering where we are placed, we are to be a blessing to the less fortunate ones and also to share the Good News that this kind of life (in God’s grace) exist and avaliable through this Saviour, Jesus Christ.

God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share. Do you want it? Do you want to share it?

 

 

The Current and Present Truth

Truth is a term used to indicate various forms of accord with fact or reality, the quality or state of being true. It is a fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. Truth is not of the past or the present, it is timeless. One obvious example would be:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

But do you know that there is also a current and present truth, a fact or belief that is accepted as true in relative to a finite period of time. In the beginning, the truth given to Adam from God was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if done so, they would die. Sadly, they did and died. So that particular truth, is no longer current and is applicable only in the Adamic period.

In Moses’ time, through to the time of the gospel, the Leviticus law was the current and present truth then. Everyone including Jesus Christ lived according to the Mosaic law. Although, some still practise them under Judaism today, it is widely accepted in the Christianity that the Leviticus law is not current. The problem is that some Christian circles unwittingly separate the Leviticus law into “ritual law” and “moral law”, keeping the moral law but making the ritual law obsolete. But in this way, modern Christians are confused because under the Leviticus law, if you do good – you get God’s blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14); but if you failed and sinned – then God must curse you (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). In Deuteronomy 28, there are 14 verses of Blessings for Obedience but 53 verses of Curses for Disobedience. This cannot be right because it seems God is more interested in dishing out curses than blessings.

You see, the whole purpose of God’s law given is so that all people could see how sinful they were. (Romans 5:20)  It is when people kept failing at keeping godly lives then can they know they really need a Saviour – a Messiah! 

Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.  Galatians 3:19 (NLT)

In the early time of the gospels, the truth is to repent from their sins, turning back to God. And to be baptised by John, the Baptist. When Jesus Christ started His ministry, the truth is that Jesus Himself  is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29), and He is the very fulfilment of that law of Moses (Matthew 5:17-18). Obviously, there are many great truths about Jesus Christ during His time in ministry on earth. But more importantly, because Jesus haven’t gone through the crucifixion, death and resurrection, so the devil has not yet been defeated at that point in time. In other words, Jesus’ true fulfilment and prowess has not been shown fully before His suffering at the cross.

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’  John 16:12

So what is the Current and Present Truth today?

The current and present truth today is one that must be seen through the lens of the Good News; the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God!

God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. Romans 1:2-5

If we have accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes and lives within us. And for the first time in the whole of creation, this happened only after the accession of Christ to heaven. So with the Holy Spirit in us, the truth will from here onward be ever current and present because He will teach us everything we need to know as the truth.

We just need to remain in fellowship with Christ. And that’s the current and present truth.

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27

Self-Sacrifice

 

I have been mourning for the loss of a great man for the past week. A man, who after seeing the failings of humanity and society, took the courage to step out, making self-sacrifices to serve the people he cared about. Through his work and that of his team, he has led his people out of misery, poverty and doom into a place of happiness, prosperity and progress. Like a modern day Moses, he opened the “Red Sea” of economics, democracy and equality to his people.

This week, I remember an even greater Man.

He personally came to fulfill a promise (Matthew 5:17).  From the comfort of His divinity into the world of humanity (John 6:51).  To reveal the loving Father God, the One who cares and heals; Who is slow to anger, always gracious and forgiving, especially with human weaknesses- sinners (John 14:6-7).  He came not to be served but to serve His people (Matt. 20:28).  To bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God, a reunion between God and His people to the nations (Luke 4:43).  To proclaim that captives will be released, the blind will see, the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come to His people (Luke 4:18-19).

He did not come to condemn, punish or pass judgement but He came to save His people from the fallen world.   For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.   John 3:16-17

 

Before achieving greatness, there is always a price to be paid. The prize is always determined by the self-sacrifices that has to be first made. In order to save the world, the redemption price was enormous. But it was paid by the very Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ, by His self-sacrifice on the cross. So what kind of finale would you expect?

A redeemed eternity, no less.      

A Prayer of Gratitude

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the wonderful life I have, and because it was Your life for mine. You took my cursed life and made it good. You are my source of my inheritance and blessings. I am rich and highly favoured. I am fully protected in You and are restful in You. I am deeply loved by You. My heart is glad and joyful as Your Holy Spirit leaps and carries me. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.
The land You have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalms 16:5-11

Where is God?

I have received a comment from a fellow reader, Jess, and she wrote; “I don’t think I can pray anymore. God has closed too many doors in my face. I have been obedient, prayerful, giving praise and thanksgiving with faith and hope. Now all that is gone. My heart is broken but worse, my spirit is broken. Where is God?”

Through her comments, we can empathise with her helplessness and brokenness since most of us have also gone through or are going through similar circumstances. And I know God is going out for her and those who are feeling less than victorious in life.

So, where is God?

When we don’t receive our immediate healings, breakthroughs, open doors, restorations or miracles, we feel that something must be wrong. So either it’s something wrong with us believers, or something wrong with what we believe in or, well, something wrong with God… Obviously, there is nothing wrong with God (Matthew 5:48), and if the bible says there is nothing wrong with us being the children of God to hope (Hebrews 10:23), then there must something wrong with our believe, right?

You see, like everything else in the world, when things don’t work, we “worked” harder at it “to make it work”. In our walk with God, we use the same methodology and if we don’t see our miracle, we “work harder” at it. We prayed harder, we tried to be more obedient, we “invested” more in time and faith in hope. So consequencingly, this becomes like all other religions out in the world. Then what differences are we to them? How different is our God?

In the Old Testament, with the old covenant, we see this “self-effort” demands on man. God blessed His people, but only if they played their part by being obedient. If the Israelites didn’t do their part, not only would they not be blessed, but the tremendous curses would also come on them. Most of the time, the Israelites ended up as losers, broken and defeated, because tried as they might, they can never achieve anything by their self-efforts. This is not what a loving God wants. But although God the Father really wanted to bless His people, unfortunately, man’s sins and failures made it impossible for Him to do so.

Human beings is the weakest link here.

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.     But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.  Hebrews 2:17-18; 3:6

But by God’s grace, we have the new covenant that was made independently between God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ who incarnate fully as human. So now, with both the parties who are perfectly faultless and flawless in keeping the covenant between God and human, the new covenant remains eternally intact. As a result, we having no part in the equation except to simply believe and receive only; have no performance to meet, nothing to show and nothing to prove.

So the next time you find yourself asking, “Where is God?”, think of what Jesus’ reply would be, “I am here waiting for you.” (Revelation 3:20-22) He has already gone way before you to rescue you through the cross, whether you know it or not. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the very evidence that He was here, and that He cares enough to stick around.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

If you find yourself still holding on to the old covenant, focused on self-effort, resulting in defeated and brokenness, you are at the right terminal. You are at the right place, where God wants you to switch over to the new covenant focused on Jesus and His finished work on the cross. In the new covenant, because Christ has already accomplished everything, you can expect God the Father’s full blessings to be on you (Ephesians 1:3-8). And with the new perspective, sometimes even the closed doors are God’ blessing and protection.

Now, declare aloud “I am in the new covenant through Jesus Christ, and I am expecting my miracles!”