A Devotional Life

Psalm 91 [short series]. The Psalm is not only an assurance of God's refuge in this life but also a sermon of hope - a hope for a trouble-free, satisfying next life. The Psalmist describes the next life in the context of sight, what you will see. It's like sightseeing in a place with a restricted area, where you need a pass to get into. He mentions two sights: judgment (v8) and salvation (v16). And, for those in God's refuge, their sightseeing ends with salvation into a satisfying life. His Refuge is complete into the next life! Psalm 91:7-10, 16 So, two sights... You will see judgment (v7-10) Verse 7 begins by alluding to troubles in thousands falling around you but not coming near you. Does this mean if you trust God, no evil will befall you? Well, yes and no! It's an issue of timing - this life or the next life. Let's see how the Psalm unpacks this prom...

Psalm 91 [short series]. As we journey through life, sometimes we go through troubles beyond our control — an addiction, sudden financial lack, sickness, broken relationship, losing a loved one, a hope deferred. How do we navigate those seasons? Or maybe you are currently in such a season and wondering, "How do I live through this?" Previously [1] [2] , we saw that God's refuge is guaranteed. The Psalm also shows the completeness of God's refuge as a reason for how we can navigate the seasons of life. His Refuge is complete through this life! Psalm 91:3-6, 13 God rescues you from troubles you can't handle and takes care of the root of all problems—Satan himself. His refuge deals with: Sin: snare of the fowler (v3, 11-12) Snares are traps used to catch animals, often made with something enticing or luring, like a cheese trap for a mouse...

Psalm 91 [short series]. Have you ever been in a long season of trouble that made you wonder whether it is God's will to rescue you? Are you presently in such a season? The Psalmist not only shows us that God is mighty to save (He can) but also that He desires to save. In the Psalm, God guarantees His refuge by His Promise (He will). His Refuge is guaranteed by His Promise! Psalm 91:4, 14-16 God's refuge is guaranteed because He has promised that He will. See how much God says “I will” in v14-16. But I’m sure we have all experienced people in power and their promises. Like a Member of Parliament (MP) once said to another MP, "All your party is known for are empty promises". To which this MP responded, "At least you find the word promises in our dictionary". So, we often find people with the power to help untrustworthy. But it’s not so with God! We see...

Psalm 91 [short series]. Psalm 91 is a commonly known Psalm that often raises doubts (e.g. Does it really apply to our present realities?), gets misinterpreted (e.g. If you trust God, no trouble will come to you) or gets undermined (e.g. It’s all a metaphor). But the message in the Psalm is such a profound encouragement to keep trusting in God because of the kind of refuge that only He can provide. As we will see in a 4 part study, the Psalm shows us why God is the only refuge you can trust (v2), and this is because: His refuge is guaranteed By His greatness: He can. v1, 11-12 By His promise: He will. v4, 14-16 His refuge is complete Through this life. v3-6, 13 Into the next life. v7-10, 16 His Refuge is guaranteed by His Greatness! Psalm 91:1, 11-12 He can always rescue! T...

Colossians 1:15-20. It was in the middle of an artificial intelligence (AI) class when one of our professors presented that although the human brain may be slower than the slowest computer in computation, it remains the single most complex object in the universe. The way it adapts, learns, predicts, and makes decisions can never be replaceable by an AI. In similar and much greater grandeur, Paul writes on the supremacy of Christ: His supremacy in creation He is the firstborn of all creation (15). For by him all thing were created (16). His supremacy in the new creation - the Church He is the firstborn from the dead (18). For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (19). He encircles all things He is befor...

Joel 2:28-32. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! We can take a few minutes to reflect and capture those moments in 2020 that we felt some joy or comfort, no matter how little, and thank God for them... Thank you Father God for 2020, and for those moments that Your light was shone in darkness, and those moments when we were encouraged... and that You keep on keeping us. We are so grateful! In the Old Testament journey of the Israelites, we see a constant cycle where the Israelites keep turning away from God's ways. And when they do, God forsakes them (2 Chronicles 15:2). Then they get exiled. They cry to God. God saves them. And then they repeat the cycle. The book of Joel is a similar story of the Israelites' exile cycle. God forsakes them. They cry out to God and He 'took pity' on them (v18), He is merciful. And more than that, he promises a day when He will come, and He paints a picture of what would happen when He comes (v28-32). A picture that reminds them that the Lord ...

Psalm 8. In the passage, the Psalmist reminds us of the majesty of God in creation, and the glorious inheritance we have through the cross of Jesus. v2 You have ordained strength to the weak in order to silence the enemy. v3-5 You have ordained (crowned) glory and honour to man (much more than you ordained to other works of your hands) in order to demonstrate your love (how ‘mindful' you are for us). v6-8 You have ordained (made to have) dominion in order to show the majesty of your cross (because you have put all things under his feet). And for Your bloody, wonderful, glorious cross - which defeated Your enemies (including death), demonstrated Your love for us, and caused us to reign as co-heirs with Christ (Eph 1:18-23), we say O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! Reflect & Pray What change has the cross of Jesus made ...