Daily Encouragement

January 1, 2009 - New Year Resolutions

It is very important to make New Year resolutions. If we don’t, we are probably not planning to make progress in our lives. We may fail to keep it up. But we can pick it up again and continue to pursuit our objectives after evaluation. We still will improve by the grace of God.

For this New Year, Matthew 19 provides the best suggestion for our New Year resolution. We see Jesus emphasizes relationship here.

First we should pay attention to strengthen our marital relationship. Jesus points out that the relationship between husband and wife: "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Unless you are gifted by God or determined by circumstances that you are not going to get married, otherwise plan to marry for life. Then those who are married should determine to grow in their relationship in 2009 with God's help. (v. 1-10 NKJV) Jesus cared very much for children than some of us, His disciples. It is very important for husband and wife to care much for their children too rather than just care for one's own interest. (v. 13-15) That's another reason why we should not take divorce as the alternative.

Second, we should make resolution to strengthen our relationship with Jesus. The rich, lovely young wanted to follow Jesus but did not do so because He had much possession. He loved money more than Jesus. Jesus wants to be our first priority in relationship. Do you want to follow Him in 2009 all the time or just some of the time? Let us decide to go after Him. Jesus says there will be great reward in this life and in the life to come for those who love Him more than any others. (v. 16-30)

January 2, 2009 - Vital Principles For The Kingdom Of Heaven

Meditation on Matthew 20

Jesus' story of the laborers of vineyard is puzzling for many of us. Why is it that the master would give the same wage for those who worked only one hour during the afternoon as well as those who have worked for a whole day? Simply speaking, Jesus wants to treat everyone the same in His kingdom whether you are the first to work there or the last. He would pay everyone as He has agreed to. But He is gracious to those who could not find work the whole day. He wants everyone to have enough pay to live on.

I agree with those Bible Scholars who said that Jesus was trying to warn the Jews that just because they were chosen by God earlier does not mean that they will get a better treatment than the Gentiles. Also many of us today should not think that those who have been in a church for a long time should automatically get a higher privilege than the new comers. We are all saved by grace and equally important to God. And our concern should not be how much we can get out of our service to God. All of us can serve is only because of His calling by grace alone.

As to the incidence of the mother of James and John asking Jesus to grant special position to her two sons in God's Kingdom, we learn from Jesus' reply another vital principle in the kingdom. Those who want to be first must learn to serve and give their lives. The servant leader concept is the way Jesus' kingdom operated. Quite different from the way of the world.

For those of us who can't see these concepts, we can learn from the two blind men. Right away call upon Jesus to help us to see. He will have compassion on us and make us see so we can follow Him. (v. 29-34)

January 3, 2009 - The Authority Of Jesus

Meditation on Matthew 21

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem showed us that He was the humble King who rode on a donkey rather than a horse. He accepted praises from the crowd and children to show that He was the Son of David! (v. 1-11)

He had the authority to cleanse the temple and chase out the merchants there. He could heal the blind and the lame. (v. 12-17)

He could curse the fig tree and cause it to wither so to demonstrate His power to reject Israel who looked good outside but bore no fruit for God. (v. 18-22)

When His authority was challenged by the chief priests and elders, He told them parables to indicate that the kingdom of God will be taken away from them because of their unbelief and will be given to others producing its fruit. (v. 23-46)

As Zechariah predicted, Jesus is the King who is righteous and having salvation ruling from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9-10)

Will you submit to Him today and exalt Him as the Lord of your life?