Blog
-
TFTW | Our Position in Glory
May 14, 2012
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died,and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
– Colossians 3: 1-4
It seems that throughout life people are vying for positions. Some parents send their children to such contests as Baby Competition, Most Photogenic Competition, Spelling Bee or Math Olympiad. Each child is ranked. Of course, the desire is for a top position.In the Gospels we see that happening with two of the disciples. The mother of James and John (sons of Zebedee) had approached Jesus asking for her sons to be seated, one on His left and one on His right when He entered the Kingdom. She was obviously concerned for positions.
For many, attainment of a noteworthy position in life seems to be a goal. They struggle to get to be somewhere and to be somebody. Sometimes the innocent can be subtly caught unaware by that rat race.
Paul, in Colossians 3:1-4, speaks of other attainments which are far more important. Better yet, these are actually the believer’s secured state in Christ.
We have been raised up with Christ.
We are seated with Christ
We DIED with Christ,
We are HID in Christ
We are to APPEAR with ChristWe belong to Christ! We are presently spiritually “seated” with Him. And one of these days, when He comes to appear in this world as King of kings and Lord of lords, we will appear with Him. We have a favoured position. What a blessed assurance.
But the litmus test of how we view our position is revealed by how we live our life.
Paul said, “… keep seeking the things above, …Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth….”
When Paul speaks of “things above,” he is not referring to an other-world asceticism. He had just written to condemn that. He is asking believers to live life by the power of the resurrected, ascended and glorified Christ.
To keep seeking things above and to set our minds on things above, is to concentrate on the eternal not the temporal. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 he exhorted believers to “…fix (your) eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Rewards, promotions, money, grades, material things are temporal, worldly attractions. These, in themselves, are not necessarily wrong. What might be on your list? But we must not allow temporal attractions to displace God as the focus of life.
How then can we learn to be more focused on things above? It comes through reading, meditating, and studying God’s Word.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you open your eyes in the morning? That thought will probably take precedence the rest of the day.
We need God’s help. A hymn reminds us, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
He has promised that His Word will not fail you. “Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!”
Thought For The Week (TFTW) is contributed by Dr Koh Siang Kiang, Associate Professor (Christian Education) at the Singapore Bible College (SBC). She graduated from SBC and Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), USA, and has served in various ministries for more than 35 years, including teaching at DTS. Dr Koh has been with SBC for the last 10 years, and has a passion for people and teaching the Word of God. She also loves to make the Bible come alive by leading tours to the Holy Land, and has led 12 such trips. To help her relax, Dr Koh likes to cook and cross-stitch.
-
TFTW | A New Responsibility
May 7, 2012
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
– John 19:26-27 (NIV)Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
– Titus 2:2-8 (NIV)
A few weeks ago, a friend entered the presence of our Lord. But, toward the end of last year, knowing that the end was near, he began preparing for the care of his dear wife. He was as detailed as he could possibly anticipate. He also turned to his two young adult sons and entrusted their mother to them.The two young men, both overseas students, agreed amongst themselves that at anytime one of them will be with their mother in Singapore.
When I heard about this, I thought of Jesus at the cross. When He saw His mother standing by, He said to her “Woman, behold your son!” Then He turned to the disciple He loved and said, “Behold, our mother!”
Jesus had brothers and sisters, but from what we read they had not at this time believed in Him as the Son of God.
Jesus’ care for His mother was not only for her physical needs. He was definitely concerned for her spiritual and emotional state. And the disciple would have been able to provide that. The text tells us, “…from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”
The disciple had been called to be a fisher of men. So he had probably not anticipated this need to care for the mother of Jesus.
In Titus 2:2-4, we read the exhortation concerning another type of care. The older men and women were charged to be examples and encouragers to the younger persons.
When we read the words “older” and “younger” we tend to think only of physical age. But here Titus seemed to be making reference also to the spiritual age.
One can be “older” physically but “younger” in his/her walk with God. There will always be someone else who is “younger” than us spiritually whom we can help care for.
Titus exhorts older men to “…be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach…” He exhorts younger women to “…be reverent in their behavior… teaching what is good,… encourage… to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind,… that the Word of God may not be dishonored…”
We have a responsibility. I called it “new” because I am speaking not only of the physical responsibility but the spiritual also. In a sense, we cannot separate the two; but all of Titus’ exhortation has to do with helping the soul.
My friend entrusted his wife’s care to his sons. Jesus turned the care of His mother to His disciples. Titus exhorts the older believer to care for the younger.
My question to you is: What younger believer do you know whom you can help care for? Look around and ask the Lord to open your eyes to one who may need discipling. There are many. Realize and accept this responsibility to be an example and encourager to someone beginning today.
Thought For The Week (TFTW) is contributed by Dr Koh Siang Kiang, Associate Professor (Christian Education) at the Singapore Bible College (SBC). She graduated from SBC and Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), USA, and has served in various ministries for more than 35 years, including teaching at DTS. Dr Koh has been with SBC for the last 10 years, and has a passion for people and teaching the Word of God. She also loves to make the Bible come alive by leading tours to the Holy Land, and has led 12 such trips. To help her relax, Dr Koh likes to cook and cross-stitch.
-
TFTW | Observe
April 30, 2012
“He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”" — Luke 11:28 (NIV)
Recently I was having tea with a friend. She stopped in the midst of our conversation and exclaimed, “I just saw the perfectionist in you!” “What do you mean?” I asked.
As I talked, my friend was observing me, unconsciously, straightening and rearranging things on the table.
-
TFTW | One Step At A Time
April 23, 2012
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Over the years of my Christian walk, I have come to appreciate many spiritual songs. One of them has been particularly meaningful. It is not found in many typical hymnals, and I got acquainted with it when I was doing my theological studies.At the beginning of my final year, I began to get a little anxious about my future ministry. Then I recalled this chorus which I learned in my first year.
-
TFTW | Choices
April 16, 2012
“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” — Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NIV)
A few weeks ago I had a delightful time visiting with my friend’s mother. Although the latter is illiterate and a relatively new believer, she appeared spiritually mature. As we spoke it was very apparent that she had changed.She was talking about someone who had been attending church for a long time, but had a rather poor testimony. Then she said something which only the Spirit of God can teach.
“When we listen to God’s Word we must change. If we don’t change, it is not right.”
-
TFTW | He Lives!
April 9, 2012
“He is not here; he has risen!…” — Luke 24:6 (NIV)
The highlight of each of my 12 trips to the Holy Land was the visit to the Garden Tomb. Situated across from the Damascus gate in Jerusalem, is this beautiful, serene walled garden.
On entering, the guide will first lead you to a small, covered amphitheater.
-
TFTW | Tell The Good News
April 2, 2012
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation…’” — Mark 16:15 (NIV)
As a little tyke my ears were tuned to two words, “good news”. It could be anything from “you may have a piece of candy today”, to “we are going on a holiday”. I would run to anyone in sight, to tell them the good news. It didn’t matter how insignificant that good news may have seemed. It was worth sharing because I was excited about it.
-
Marli Spieker | Helping Women Worldwide
March 28, 2012
International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide on 8 March. This month, we have the privilege to speak with Marli Spieker, founder of TWR’s Project Hannah International ministry, who was in town recently to share her valuable experiences and incredible journey serving God in TWR for the last 45 years.
-
TFTW | Ebenezer
March 26, 2012
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the LORD helped us.’ ” — 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV)
Whether on holiday or at home, I make it a point to keep to my exercise routines. In Melaka, I like to walk up St. Paul’s Hill. At the top of the hill sits St. Paul’s Church, a historic building. In the 1800s many significant people were buried there. What is left of that building are the walls, and several tombstones. Each tombstone tells a story of the people represented. When I read those names, it means nothing to me. However, the words mean something to those who knew those people. -
Rethinking Our Worldviews
March 20, 2012
One of our team members shares his thoughts about the Worldview Rethink session that John Cross and GoodSeed International conducted at our office on 19 March.
===========================
“Gotta check my assumptions.”That was the main thought that I came out with after a most insightful training session with John Cross and his team from GoodSeed International.
John had just spent a good part of the morning going over perspectives and methods that could communicate the gospel in an impactful way.
