Experience the Full Measure of the Blessing of Christ

February 26, 2013 - Romans 15:27-30

15:27		這 固 然 是 他 們 樂 意 的 ． 其 實 也 算 是 所 欠 的 債 ． 因 外 邦 人 、 既 然 在 他 們 屬 靈 的 好 處 上 有 分 、 就 當 把 養 身 之 物 供 給 他 們 。
15:28		等 我 辦 完 了 這 事 、 把 這 善 果 向 他 們 交 付 明 白 、 我 就 要 路 過 你 們 那 裡 、 往 士 班 雅 去 。
15:29		我 也 曉 得 去 的 時 候 、 必 帶 著 基 督 豐 盛 的 恩 典 而 去 。
15:30		弟 兄 們 、 我 藉 著 我 們 主 耶 穌 基 督 、 又 藉 著 聖 靈 的 愛 、 勸 你 們 與 我 一 同 竭 力 、 為 我 祈 求 　 神 ．

²⁷ They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. ²⁸ So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

   ³⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. ³¹ Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there.

Paul portrays a wonderful picture of the blessing of Christ in both Judea and Gentiles believers. He sees how Christ has richly blessed both groups of people that they enjoy the spiritual and material blessings from God. God intends to bless His people through Jesus Christ by the Spirit that they become united and share blessings from God to each other. Paul urges brothers and sisters to pray to God for his ministry by the Lord Jesus and by the love of the Holy Spirit. This is an amazing scene to describe how the ministry of the apostle is to be achieved through the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and with the other people of God. 

My dear God - Father, Son and Spirit - I know that I am loved by You and You are also fulfilling Your will in my life that I can be like Paul manifesting the full measure of the blessing of Christ to Your people as I connect my daily life to Your Life. This is a new spiritual journey to me as I never walk before but this is also the way - the only best option of my life - that I experience You and become Your instrument for blessing others. 

We Overflow with Hope of God by the Power of the Holy Spirit

February 25, 2013 - Romans 15:13-19

15:13		但 願 使 人 有 盼 望 的 　 神 、 因 信 、 將 諸 般 的 喜 樂 平 安 、 充 滿 你 們 的 心 、 使 你 們 藉 著 聖 靈 的 能 力 、 大 有 盼 望 。
15:14		弟 兄 們 、 我 自 己 也 深 信 你 們 是 滿 有 良 善 、 充 足 了 諸 般 的 知 識 、 也 能 彼 此 勸 戒 。
15:15		但 我 稍 微 放 膽 寫 信 給 你 們 、 是 要 提 醒 你 們 的 記 性 、 特 因 　 神 所 給 我 的 恩 典 、
15:16		使 我 為 外 邦 人 作 基 督 耶 穌 的 僕 役 、 作 　 神 福 音 的 祭 司 、 叫 所 獻 上 的 外 邦 人 、 因 著 聖 靈 、 成 為 聖 潔 、 可 蒙 悅 納 。
15:17		所 以 論 到 　 神 的 事 我 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 有 可 誇 的 。
15:18		除 了 基 督 藉 我 作 的 那 些 事 、 我 甚 麼 都 不 敢 提 ． 只 提 他 藉 我 言 語 作 為 、 用 神 蹟 奇 事 的 能 力 、 並 聖 靈 的 能 力 、 使 外 邦 人 順 服 ．
15:19		甚 至 我 從 耶 路 撒 冷 、 直 轉 到 以 利 哩 古 、 到 處 傳 了 基 督 的 福 音 。

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    ¹⁴ I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

   ¹⁷ Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 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— 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.

Paul praises God for He is the God of Hope so that believers may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Spirit gives us hope that is from God and Spirit also sanctified believers that they become a pleasing offering to God. Spirit also authenticated Paul's ministry - his works and speech - by the power of signs and wonders through the power of the Spirit of God. 

Dear Holy Spirit, your church and people need the hope of God by your power in serving God in this hostile world. May You speak to me that I experience vividly everyday that I truly know that my God is the God of Hope who can always energizes me to live out His purpose in my life in the midst of challenges and oppositions from the world and Satan. My Holy Spirit, continue your sanctification work in my life since my conversion. I desire not to be a mediocre Christian but live out a sanctified life that is worthy of Jesus' calling in my life. My Holy Spirit, may all your work in your church and my family be done through my obedience and faith in Your Power of signs and wonders that people's lives can be completely transformed. May God's glory be exalted through me by the Spirit. Amen!

Kingdom of God - Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

February 24, 2013 - Romans 14:16-18

14:16		不 可 叫 你 的 善 被 人 毀 謗 ．
14:17		因 為 　 神 的 國 、 不 在 乎 喫 喝 、 只 在 乎 公 義 、 和 平 、 並 聖 靈 中 的 喜 樂 。
14:18		在 這 幾 樣 上 服 事 基 督 的 、 就 為 　 神 所 喜 悅 、 又 為 人 所 稱 許 。

 ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Paul exhorted Romans believers not to allow our eating in freedom be a stumbling block to other brothers and sisters. He turns their eyes to focus on the Kingdom of God that is far more than eating and drinking that will soon pass away but rather on the righteousness, peace and joy that will last forever. 

My Father God, thanks for giving Your kingdom to us as your beloved children. That everlasting kingdom is our most precious gift on earth. My Lord Jesus, thanks for inaugurating your Kingdom on earth through your birth, death and resurrection. You will come again to reign on earth that every knee show bow and every mouth shall confess that Jesus is the Lord. My Holy Spirit, thanks for indwelling in me and to give me new birth that I can now enter God's kingdom and even will co-reign with Jesus when he returns. My Holy Spirit, show me God's righteousness that I walk justly and care for the needy; show me God's peace that I sow harmony and peace in this hostile world; and show me God's joy that I can live a carefree life and life of praise. My Spirit, continue to speak to me and show me the reality of Power and Presence of God's Kingdom on earth. 

God's Plan is to Prosper and Not to Harm Us - Seek His Will

February 23, 2013 - Jeremiah 29:10-14

29:10		耶 和 華 如 此 說 、 為 巴 比 倫 所 定 的 七 十 年 滿 了 以 後 、 我 要 眷 顧 你 們 、 向 你 們 成 就 我 的 恩 言 、 使 你 們 仍 回 此 地 。
29:11		耶 和 華 說 、 我 知 道 我 向 你 們 所 懷 的 意 念 、 是 賜 平 安 的 意 念 、 不 是 降 災 禍 的 意 念 、 要 叫 你 們 末 後 有 指 望 。
29:12		你 們 要 呼 求 我 、 禱 告 我 、 我 就 應 允 你 們 。
29:13		你 們 尋 求 我 、 若 專 心 尋 求 我 、 就 必 尋 見 。
29:14		耶 和 華 說 、 我 必 被 你 們 尋 見 、 我 也 必 使 你 們 被 擄 的 人 歸 回 、 將 你 們 從 各 國 中 、 和 我 所 趕 你 們 到 的 各 處 招 聚 了 來 、 又 將 你 們 帶 回 我 使 你 們 被 擄 掠 離 開 的 地 方 ． 這 是 耶 和 華 說 的 。

¹⁰ This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah encouraged Israelites not to lose hope in God though they were exiled to Babylon after the destruction of their own nation. God had a plan to prosper them and not to harm them - a plan of hope and a future. God would gather them again and bring them back to the place of the origin.   Jeremiah exhorted them to pray to God and to seek Him with all their hearts. 

My Lord, thanks for giving Your promise to me as well that You intend to prosper me and lead me fulfill your plan in my life. You have your time of seventy years for Israelites and similarly have your time for my future destiny. My responsibility is to pray to You and to seek Your will with all my heart. This is presently my life transition that requires the seeking of Your will, but also my absolute obedience and surrender to You as it is revealed to me.