A New Person

The apostle Paul hated Jesus and persecuted His followers.

But a personal encounter and spiritual union with Christ changed him.

He became a new person. 

The old order of sin, death, and selfishness was gone.

A new beginning, a new covenant, a new perspective and way of living had come.

Following Jesus is not turning over a new leaf.

It is beginning a new life under a new Master.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; 

Old things have passed away; 

Behold, all things have become new. 

—2 Corinthians 5:17

Working for Rewards

In our society,

Many do thing for rewards,

Others because it is the right thing to do,

They live out their life for their beliefs,

Rewards or not...

As believers in Jesus, 

We will receive our rewards one day. 

But reward should not be our motivation for the right living,

Neither is it to earn our salvation. 

Our desire is to please God who first loves us (1 john 4:19),

Our goal is to live out our life for God,

The best thing to do is to trust and obey God,

Rewards or not...

God’s Beloved Child

Prolonged affliction often vexes us.

We want an immediate solution, a quick fix.

But there are things in life that can’t be fixed; they can only be borne.

David was hounded by King Saul for 9 long years.

David cried to God about his troubles: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

As Christians, we can complain to God in our troubles.

When we turn to God with our complaints, we come to our senses.

In David’s case, he remembered God’s love: “I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13: 5-6).

Sufferings may persist, but David could sing in the midst of his trials.

David was reminded that he was God’s beloved child.

And that is all he needed to know.