Day 61 - Chapter 4

Paul continues to encourage the Philippians. He commended them for their generosity and concern towards him whilst he was travelling and fulfilling the mission for Christ. 

Philippians 4:20 says

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This is true not only for the Philippians but also for us. Mind you, even non-Christians partake in this privilege and how blessed are we for having a God who continually provides. 

I can relay so many provision stories in my life and if I do, this note will probably turn into a novel. God has just richly worked in my life like that. When I literally have just a pound in my pocket, the Lord provides significant people who can help me get through my financial dillemma, right Mack? hehe I swear this just happened yesterday. haha. 

In the past, I used to worry so much about money but I have learned over the years that once we understand what God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5) means, we are rest assured that the Lord will always be in control of our situation, whatever it may be.

Remember: God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20-21). 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 60 - Chapter 3

That song called "We'll be Faithful" is very memorable to me. We even used it as a family camp theme song 3 years ago if I am not mistaken. 

Philippians 3:13-14

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We know very well the story of Paul's conversion right? We know how he hated the Christians for spreading the gospel and how he approved of and witnessed the stoning of Stephen and how he chased after all the believers and tried to kill them. And then came the road to Damascus that changed his life forever :) 

Apostle Paul became this enduring, strong, very intellectual and powerful speaker of God. He never stopped until he finally met up with God in the heavenly realms, the moment he had been waiting for as we read in the previous chapters of this book - to live is Christ and to die is gain (chapter1 verse21).

From the verse itself, Paul has left his past behind and never looked back and he carried on until he won his prize - a citizenship in heaven! (verse 20). 

I sometimes think to myself that I am such a boring person. I never have a good story to tell about how I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and what was my life before that. I grew up in a Christian family you see, my life was filled with Sunday schools, summer camps, seminars, youth fellowships, choir/p&w practices and many other church activities unlike converted Christians who I believe have more dramatic stories to tell. But then I realised that I can always look back at those great moments because even though I was not baptised yet I was already being moulded to be a good Christian. Apostle Paul was not like that, he did not want to remember his past because it was a part of himself that caused God so much hurt. And so he pressed on for his present and future. 

As a person who knew about God whilst growing up, I can proudly say that I look back without regrets being trained to be a good Christian, however I don't dwell in the past but focus on what is here and now and look forward to the future where the prize is eternal life in Jesus Christ. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 59 - Chapter 2

I remember Ate Tin telling me about her Jewish employer. The man has constantly been questioning the genuinity of the bible and my Ate has never felt so challenged before. I was appalled by what she said when she told me that the man actually did not accept the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in a stable and he grew up in a simple family with His human father, Joseph, raising Him up as a young carpenter. He said that Jesus Christ should have been born in a palace, well-educated and prominent. Philippians 2:6-8 say otherwise:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross. 

This was done so Jesus could identify with the poorest and weakest among us, especially the spiritually poor and weak. I stand in awe of Jesus who demonstrated such humility. It humbled me all the same and made me think that surely He came to seek and save not those who already belonged to Him (spiritually rich) but those who are lost and are yet to be found (spiritually weak). 

Just imagining the Son of God who breathed the same air as I do now, did "humanly" things like eating or reading a book or even feeling "human" emotions excites me. God loved us that much that He allowed His Son to experience humanity and suffer for humanity, the King who knew no suffering at all, was humbled to death on a cross. 

Now to the non-believers, they know nothing and will know nothing unless they open their hearts to Him. Jesus was humbled for our sake. He knew no sin but He became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and died to serve as an atonement for the world. The Son reconciled us to the Father and the moment we understand the humility of Christ is the moment we see why we became Christians and why we still live to this age. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 58 - Chapter 1

I would like to talk about two things today. One concept is mentioned from verses 15-19 and the other one is taken from verses 20-26. 

It is interesting how out of an individual's wrong motive, Paul has seen something good and useful. 

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice

So many denominations have emerged over the years and those who are not familiar with the bible tend to get confused on who and what to believe in. Unlike them, we must be well adept in His word so that we are not easily swayed by false teachings i.e. we know WHO to worship, how to live our lives and our purpose. We have witnessed many people use religion for their selfish desires (money, power and the like) but like what apostle Paul said, out of false motives, Christ is preached therefore we consider it part of God's bigger plans for the nation. 

Paul is one of God's extraordinary men. 

 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

In a non-believer's point of view, only a crazy man would be torn between death and life filled with persecution. Having these two options and knowing that either way, one cannot win, is somehow impossible for an ordinary man to bear. Thankfully Paul was not ordinary and thankfully WE ARE NOT ORDINARY! If we have fully discerned God's love for us we would think like Paul. It will not matter to us whether we live or die because either way it would mean life in Christ. 

*taken from my Facebook notes