Bible Truth Daily Devotion

July 31, 2010

The Life Pursuit

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 12:01 am

Psalm 49

 

 

How much is the price of eternal life?  What is the life pursuit?  The answers to these questions and more are in the psalm. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 49:1-2.  This is a psalm for all the people in the world.  It uses the merism device to emphasize the inclusiveness of everyone.   No matter if a person has a high or a low social status or if his possession is plenty or little, the psalm addresses every persons in the world.

Psalm 49:3-4. The psalm is a wisdom psalm, meant to teach people.  The psalmist is humble and says that he would attentively listen to wisdom at anytime himself.  He, being a minister of God, would also administer to others with what he received.

Psalm 49:5-6.  No doubt, we all would have days of uncertainty or trials.  At such time, the psalmist encourages us to stay focus on the main thing instead of the world.  The world uses the successes of the wicked as a poster boy; it entices and soothes us to follow the money and the prideful ways of the riches.

Psalm 49:7-10.  Realistically, no amount of money can buy the eternal life.  Heaven is a free gift; it cannot be earned nor is it deserved.  The Bible says that what good is it to a man if he earns the world but loses his life in the process (Matthew 16:26).  Whatever one makes and accumulates will be left behind for others.  Meanwhile, the person without the gift of eternal life will be suffering eternally.

Psalm 49:11-13.  Wisdom is not readily accepted by all though.  The rich and the prosperous would think of this world only.  Their idea of eternity is to leave their names on buildings, bridges, or some history books.  The psalmist reminds everyone that the life of even the strongest and the mightiest among us is a mere breath.  It does not last forever.

Psalm 49:14-15.  The life we know will soon past.  We will face eternity.  We either go to Sheol, a place of suffering, or are delivered by God in eternity.  There are only two consequences after this life. 

Psalm 49:16-20. With eternity firmly understood and planted in our mind, the psalmist encourages us that we should not focus on the riches of the world (v. 16) or the praises or kudos of this life (v. 18).  They are temporary and will pass away in a moment.

 

Meditation:

As the people of God read the psalmist’s words of wisdom, we should affirm our faith in Jesus Christ.  God did not save us from poverty of the world to become rich, although it happens to many Christians out from their new found work ethics from faith.  God did not save us from infamy to become rock stars of Christendom, although many Christians worship those leaders among us.  Instead God merely saves us from the eternal hell fire and gives us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Let us, therefore, rededicate our vow in faith.  Firstly, we will switch from whatever we rely on for eternal life and depend only on Jesus and His work on the cross for salvation from the consequences of our sin.  Secondly, we avow anew that the resurrected Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of my life.  Thirdly, we let Jesus Christ reign in our life and let Him sit in the throne in our heart.  Lastly, we will repent and renounce sins in our life and follow God and His will. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder of what is most important in this life.  Let us focus on eternity while on earth.  Let us preach the good news of Jesus Christ to people around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

July 4, 2010

The Treasures of the World

Filed under: Devotion in Psalm — Tags: , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Psalm 24

 

 

The earth is full of treasures.  There are the oil, the diamond, the gold, the silvers, and the rare earths.  They are worth trillions and trillions of dollars.  Although their sum may be enormous, they are only a speck of what the universe contains.  Now imagine that God is the creator of all of that.  The thought is unbelievable.  This sense of awe is the basis of Psalm 24. 

 

Commentary:

Psalm 24:1. The psalmist makes a declaration that God owns everything there is.  The earth, the sun, the moon, and the universe are all His.  What we have is insignificant in comparison to what is God.  Straightly speaking, even what we have is His. 

Not only the things in the world belong to God but so are the people.  That means that your and I owe our existence to the Lord.  Amoral people may find the thought uncomforting.  Some even promoted “scientific” theories to dispel the notion of a creator, so they can escape judgment on earth.  Nevertheless, we all will meet our creator one day and face the judgment of the King.

Psalm 24:3-5. Verse 3 refers to the worship in Jerusalem.  The temple and the city are situated on top of a hill.  No matter which way the people come, it is still ascension in going to the temple.  The holy place refers to the temple.  The requirement in going to the temple seems straight.  Certainly the requirement to enter into the heaven would be equal if not straighter than that required to go into temple.  

Therefore, going to the heaven requires a very high standard of righteousness.  The psalmist uses the terms clean hands and pure hearts.  In other words, the action and the internal motives need to be consistent and have to be righteous. 

Psalm 24:6.  This high standard is next to impossible to achieve but is fulfilled when the person seek after God wholeheartedly.  As Jesus said, our hunger and thirst for God will be satisfied (Matt 5:6).  Similarly, when we recognized our poverty in spirit and chase after God, we would have the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3). 

Psalm 24:7-10.  The thought of seeing God made the psalmist immensely joyful.  He called the gate of the city to lift up the heads.  He wanted the doors to be wide open to welcome the coming of the king. 

One day, our Lord will return to earth.  As a triumphant King returned from victory, all His subjects cheered His procession.  Everyone on earth and in heaven will give Him the glory, praise, and honor.

 

Meditation:

Wealth accumulation is a major concern for many.  People are all ear when they hear something about making a lot of money.  They will be all attentive.  Their body leans forward, and the eyes lock in. 

Let’s stop right here and think.  How much can we really make in this life.  Let’s say you do very well and climb into the top five richest person list.  Their net worth ranges from $28.7 billion to $53.3 billion.  That is a lot of money.  Yet they are only a drop in the bucket when it is compared to the treasures of the world.  When it is compared to the universe, it becomes infinitely small. 

God owns all of that.  If we put that into our heart and live by it, we will probably no longer seek after the treasures of the world.  We also know that God has something so much more important for us.  God has prepared eternity for us.  Eternal life should be our first concern.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are greatly in awe of your vast, unfathomable riches.  We praise you that you have prepared that for us, the human being.  We also thank you that you something infinitely more valuable for us—the eternal life.  We pray that we will seek after you all the days of our life.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

May 6, 2010

A Close Walk with God

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 11:14 pm

Genesis 26:1-35

 

 

What do you look for in life—excitement prosperity, or peace?  Most people would prefer to have peace over adventure, but perhaps no one minds to have a little wealth.  In that regard, Isaac’s life is quite “perfect.”  A snap shot of Isaac’s life is in this chapter.   

 

Commentary:

Genesis 26:1-6. Isaac encountered a similar situation that his father faced.  Canaan had a famine, and he had to move.  He could go to Egypt like his father did, but the LORD appeared to him and warned him not to repeat the same mistake that his father had made. 

Genesis 26:7-11. Left to himself, Isaac committed the same deceit of his father.  He lied to the people in Gerar that Rebekah was his sister.  This time, the uprightness of the king prevented any tragedy from happening. 

Genesis 26:1-16. His stay in the land was cut short because his wealth multiplied.  The Philistines felt threatened by his success and wanted him gone.  They even plugged up the wells to force the issues. 

Genesis 26:18-31. Isaac finally found his home in Beersheba.  His dug three wells before he could finally own the last one.  In Beersheba, the LORD appeared to him and blessed him again.  His strength grew to the point that the king of Gerar came to seek peace with him.  Isaac forgave the king and formed an oath with him. 

 

Meditation:

Isaac had mostly peace.  His quarrel with the people of Gerar generated some excitement but never caused him to lose any sleep.  He did not endure the hardship of Egypt and certainly was very wealthy.  All those are because God had a plan for him and because Isaac was following God.

God has a plan for each one of us.  The plan would be perfect if we follow His will.  But His plan for you would not be the same like Isaac or any other person on earth because each one of us is uniquely made. The key to know God’s will is to have a close walk with God.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to be like Isaac to walk closely with you, in Jesus’ name, amen.

April 16, 2010

The Likely Pitfall of Becoming Rich

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 9:11 am

Genesis 13:1-18

 

 

Jesus said that it is hard for a rich person to enter into the kingdom.  He likens it as a camel crawling through a small opening.  What about a believer becoming rich?  What would happen?  Today’s passage is a great reminder what wealth can possibly do to faith. 

 

Commentary:

Genesis 13:1-4. Escaping from the death grip of Pharoah, Abraham went back to Canaan.  He arrived first in Negev then moved onto Bethel.  He did not do anything in Negev because it was a desert.  But in Bethel, he set up an altar and proclaimed the name of God to the Canaanites. 

Genesis 13:5-18. Something unfortunate happened in this journey.  The father of faith, Abraham could not keep his nephew from leaving the faith.  What began as a fight over resources became incremental steps of going away from God.  Lot wasn’t satisfied with what he had.  He asked to split from Abraham and chose to pasture his flocks in the valley of Jordon.  Lot saw the glorious city life and was attracted by it.  He moved closer and closer to Sodom. He eventually lived in the city of Sodom. 

 

Meditation:

As Lot became richer, he was more drawn towards the sinful lifestyle of Sodom than ever before.  What happened to Lot can happen to the believers.  When we become materially rich, we can desire more of the world.  When we have money, we’d like to buy the latest gadgets.  When those huge flat panel TV’s get hung on the wall, they would not be displaying Bible verses.  What is showing would be the TV soap opera, movies, and the cable contents.  With the extra cash, we will more likely think about where to dine than what we read in the Bible.  When we have money, it is ironical but true that we may think about what we do not yet own instead of giving thanks for what we have. Strive among believers is only an out flowing of the inner condition of discontent.

Do not be fooled, brother and sisters in Christ. If God has granted us the wealth when we put in our hard work, we should use it to thank Him and to further His kingdom.  Let us keep our focus in heaven. Let us remind ourselves that the world is temporal. Just like Sodom, the world will be destroyed in a fire at the end. The only eternal everlasting home is heaven.   

Remember this: What we do for heaven will last, but what we have on earth will rot.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, help us listen to your words. Help us build our foundation firmly in Jesus Christ. Let us all gaze towards the heaven and not the earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Powered by WordPress