Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year 2

Monday of Week 10 Year 2

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Sometimes, we come across people who are so obstinate and stubborn, that we are unable to help them change right away. Such people may need to be left alone for a while, so that they may perhaps come to their senses or acknowledge their error, before they could be helped. One example of such a person is found in today’s reading. In today’s reading, we come across king Ahab, who had done wrong towards God, but had refused to admit it, or acknowledge his error. As a result, the prophet Elijah left the presence of Ahab, until such a time Ahab was ready to repent and return to God’s ways.

What about us? Have we been so stubborn and obstinate and refused to mend our ways and right our relationship with God? Just as Ahab ended experiencing severe drought in his kingdom until such a time he made amends with God, we too may experience a severe drought in our soul, until we realise our folly and return to God’s help and providence. May we come to realise our error and change our ways, before it becomes too late.

Thursday of Week 9 Year 2

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Life is such that we will face trials and challenges from time to time, and sometimes such challenges and trials could test our faith. When we are tested, we could respond in different ways: some of us would take the challenge and do our best in overcoming such tests; some of us would just sit and do nothing, thinking that such challenges will eventually go away and not bother us; or some of us could even give up and be overwhelmed by such challenges, even to the point of losing our faith. If you are in such a situation where you are facing a great challenge, how would you respond?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Do all you can to present yourself in front of God as a man who has come through his trials, and a man who has no cause to be ashamed of his life’s work and has kept a straight course with the message of the truth.” The reading cautions us that we are to do all we can; not just sit idle; or give up. Are we taking on such challenges for the glory of God? Or have we become too complacent and forgotten our identity and mission as Christians?

Wednesday of Week 9 Year 2

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God has called and chosen each and every one of us to be His witnesses and to proclaim the Gospel as best we can. Each of us are different, and how much or little we are able to do in proclaiming the Gospel is not important. What is important is we do our part, no matter how big or small that part may be. Some of us may be able to travel a lot to preach the Good News; some of us may not be able to do so due to some reason or another but can still offer prayers for others. But in all our efforts, our goal is to preach the Good News according to our ability and situation, with gusto and with power, love and self-control.

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord…” If we believe strongly in our faith, then why are some of us feeling small, timid or scared to preach the Good News? Sometimes we do not even have to say so many words, since even our attitude, behaviour and actions can be a form of preaching. May we take heed of what today’s reading is telling us, and do our duty in preaching the Good News to all, so that all may know what it means to be a Christian.

Monday of Week 9 Year 2

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Christian faith in itself is meaningless if we do not show our faith. Christian faith is not something which we keep only to ourselves, or hide it in a closet, or sweep it under a rug. Christian faith must be shown, witnessed and lived, so that others would come to know what it really means to be a Christian, not by mere words, but by the example of our attitude, behaviour, conduct and our lives. So how do we show our faith? What do we need to do as Christians?

Today’s reading gives us some ideas: “…you will have to do your utmost yourselves, adding goodness to the faith that you have, understanding to your goodness, self-control to your understanding, patience to your self-control, true devotion to your patience, kindness towards your fellow men to your devotion, and, to this kindness, love.” If we say that we have faith, then we must show our goodness, our understanding, our self-control, our patience, true devotion, our kindness towards others, and ultimately, genuine love. Sounds like quite a lot is expected of us, isn’t it? Well, nobody said that being a Christian is going to be easy, but let us be joyful and glad, since the benefits are out of this world.

Friday of Week 8 Year 2

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Each and every one of us are unique. No two of us are exactly the same, even though we may appear to look alike, especially if we are twins. God has given each and every one of us different gifts, different talents, different capabilities. But what do we do with such gifts, talents or capabilities? Some of us may begin to think that we are great and we use our gifts, talents or capabilities to show off and to boost our ego, pride and to gain fame and popularity. Some of us even use our gifts, talents or capabilities to lord it over others, belittle others or put other people down, because we think that they are not able to measure up to us. But what sort of attitude and behaviour should a Christian have towards such gifts, talents or capabilities?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” Ultimately, our gifts, talents or capabilities are meant to serve others with humility and sincerity, and to glorify God. Are using our gifts, talents or capabilities for our own glory? Or are we using them for the greater glory of God?

Thursday of Week 8 Year 2

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Each and every day, we are surrounded with choices. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we make bad ones. When we make bad choices, what happens? Just as a stain can slowly ruin a shirt or pants, a stain of sin as a result of bad choices can slowly ruin our soul. When our soul is stained, what do we do? Ideally, we should go for confession as soon as possible. Surely we would not want a stain to remain on our soul for too long, just like we would quickly get the stain removed from our clothing. But the reality is, some of us seem to think that we have plenty of time to remove the stains of sin from our soul. Some of us seem to drag our feet, procrastinate, or put off going to confession. Some even go only once or twice a year. Are we forgetting the possible consequence of letting the stains of sin remain?

In today’s reading, we are cautioned: “I urge you, my dear people, while you are visitors and pilgrims to keep yourselves free from the selfish passions that attack the soul.: When our soul is stained, we are causing ourselves to drift further away from God. We begin to think that we are self-sufficient, and that we can get by and prosper in this world. Perhaps we may be able to survive in this world for a while, but what is going to happen to us when we leave this world? Are we going to lose our lives in the afterlife, because of our neglect? May we come to realise that we are merely visitors and pilgrims on earth. Earth is not our permanent home, so let us make more effort to prepare for our permanent home. Where our permanent home may be, is up to us to decide.

Wednesday of Week 8 Year 2

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Some people say they love, but their attitude and actions seem to say otherwise. We have come across people who say they love, but there is a reason why they love. For example, some people love another because the other person is smart, or handsome, or beautiful, or wealthy, or influential, or for some other reason. Some people love because they can get some sort of benefit or advantage in return. But how many of us can truly say we love without condition, without pretense?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “You have been obedient to the truth and purified your souls until you can love like brothers, in sincerity; let your love for each other be real and from the heart…” As Christians, we have experienced God’s love. God loves us so much that He even sent His Son, Jesus, to guide us and save us from our sins. May we be humble and willing to love genuinely, just like God loves us each and every one unconditionally and sincerely.

Tuesday of Week 8 Year 2

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Our minds can sometimes be so filled with thoughts of different kinds, that we become preoccupied with finding solutions to some of such thoughts. Sometimes we think too much, and stress ourselves out with so much anxiety, fear and worry. Our focus seem to lean more and more towards matters here on earth, that we forget that there is more to life than such earthly issues. As Christians, what should we do?

In today’s reading, we are told: “Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” When we put our trust in God and depend on His providence, there is nothing for us to worry or fear. There is a song by Don Moen titled: “God Will Make A Way.” Indeed, God will make a way for us, even though we think that there seems to be no way. All we need to do is let Him be in control, and God’s Grace is sufficient for us. He will take care of things, so let us do our best and lead good Christian lives, and let God do the rest.

Monday of Week 8 Year 2

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Many of us are fortunate that we are not being severely tested in our faith and in our resolve to keep our faith. This is because we live in a somewhat peaceful environment. Of course, off and on, we may experience some form of persecution, but such persecution is still manageable, compared to some Christians in some countries where they are being tortured or butchered for refusing to denounce their faith. But what if, some day, we too experienced such torture and butchering? Would we be able to remain steadfast to our faith, even to the point of death?

In today’s reading, we are comforted by the fact that our faith may be tested, but if we do not allow ourselves to falter and remain steadfast, we will have praise and glory and honour: “Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour.” May we be ever ready to stand by our faith, knowing that our God will protect us and lead us to everlasting joy.

Friday of Week 7 Year 2

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Some of us seem to be so quick in judging others, just because they think differently, or behave differently, or do things differently, or carry out instructions differently, from the way we think or expect. When we encounter such people, we may get angry, annoyed, upset, frustrated or even shun the person. But what we may fail to realise or perceive is that the person might be in agreement with us, or might be getting a task done, but not exactly as how we wanted. If you are encountering such a person, what would you do? How would you respond or manage such persons?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord; remember it is those who had endurance that we say are the blessed ones. You have heard of the patience of Job, and understood the Lord’s purpose, realising that the Lord is kind and compassionate. Above all, my brothers, do not swear by heaven or by the earth, or use any oaths at all. If you mean ‘yes’, you must say ‘yes’; if you mean ‘no’, say ‘no.’ Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement.”

Perhaps the challenge that we face is to understand and appreciate the difference of methods or opinions, and engage the person or persons in question, so that we could strive together in one common goal, that is building the Kingdom of God. After all, we may have heard of the phrase “unity in diversity” before. Let us thus be thankful for the unity we experience, while appreciating the diversity of persons who make up God’s children.