Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Emotional Breakdown and Counting the Cost

Had an emotional breakdown ytdy. Ok. It was probably due to stress and due to just my sadness over being incompetence to organise TG ultimate. Ok maybe i was abit put off by my leaders words, but oh well. Learned to pick up and be fine and to meet my student and go for ACJC trng. Yes i did go AC in the end and i realised there is still so much use to learn from it, and i really did and do enjoy it. And my student appeared! Praise the Lord!!! Praying for his salvation!!! :)

Again, i must admit i'm distracted today. Hmmn. The question for myself is what is the cost for me to follow Jesus fully? I think Ultimate is the 1st thing that comes to mind. And so the conclusion/result? I need to spend more time thinking abt that.

I can't stand reading a text and not understanding what it means. So i spent a whole hour expounding on the text, and i ended just reading a learning from the commentary, which is quite an eye opener, and gave me lots of insight and understanding of the text. The Commentator is David Guzik. 

the word disciple simply means "learner." A disciple is someone who is a student, a learner of Jesus.

So, what does it take to become a learner of Jesus? Jesus has just shown us that coming to God is like accepting an invitation (Luke 14:16-24); is that all there is to it?

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple

First, Jesus boldly says that nothing can come between you and God. Even good things such as family and the instinct of self-preservation cannot become idols to the true disciple.

Think of how audacious Jesus is! He asks for this kind of ultimate commitment, and we give it to Him - why? Because of love. When we know the love of Jesus; when we are in a love-relationship with Him, only then can we be committed to Him with this great devotion.

 Hate is a strong word, but that is exactly how it can seem compared to the love of family members and friends when we put Jesus before them.

Disciples must count themselves as dead; they must go all the way.

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

The one carrying a cross essentially walked down death row to their place of execution. They knew there was no turning back, and it was a total, complete commitment, with your life was completely yielded. You knew your life didn’t belong to you any more.

This is total commitment; Jesus gave Himself for us totally, and expects us to give ourselves to Him totally.

We can understate the demands of Jesus when we preach the gospel to others. We can give them the impression that coming to Jesus is only believing some facts instead of yielding a life.


"The general idea that these words of Jesus about bearing the cross refer to passive submission to all kinds of afflictions, like disappointments, pain, sickness and grief that come upon man in life, is totally wrong . . . only a person who for the sake of His service surrenders all self-seeking and abandons all striving after his own interests can be His disciple." (Geldenhuys)

When the ancient Greek phrase forsake all that he has was applied to people meant, "to say goodbye to." Jesus tells us to "say goodbye" to everything we have, entrusting it to Jesus.

(34-35) Don’t be a lukewarm follower of Jesus!

 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"


Salt is only useful when it has the nature of salt. A Christian is only useful when he has the nature of Christ.


(15:1) How do people react to the radical demands of the gospel? These sinners respond, they do not reject. 

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 


This stern gospel was not inconsistent with Jesus’ love; it was the result of His love. Sinners and outcasts saw the love prompting the bold call to discipleship, and they responded.


People respond to a challenging gospel, if the truth is spoken in love. We do a great disservice when we "soften" the demands of the gospel, either for others or for ourselves. 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

God stands here

Ok i must admit, today im quite in a daze. Either that, or i really have nothing much to comment/learned from today's Qt. Just a few pointers that i did learn though.

Passage: John 20:11-31 Regarding Jesus appearance to Mary and the disciples


John 1: 1-18 The Word Became Flesh: John was sent so that "all might bear witness through him" ALL???!!!! Recently i'm still trying to grasp how is what John did in preparing the way for the Lord significant.


Phil 2: 6-11 Imitating Christ’s Humility: the sentence that striked me was Christ himself did not regard his equality with God. He humbled himself despite His status! Its really like a king who become a servant to others. He humbled himself THAT MUCH! I wish i would learn humbleness like this. Being a sportsman, having a certain form of "air" and egoness seems essential to intimidating opponents., but if im not wrong, it stems from pride. It is just so difficult to be humble.

That's all for today. Not much reflections... Hmmn.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Giving Thanks

Wow. Didn't realise i last posted 19 Nov, almost 4 months ago! Hehe. Ever since i ord-ed, I always wanted to post some reflections. I will do that another time. Well, i am writing this today cause i suddenly felt the urge to post some reflections of my QT down on my blog. I think after awhile i dont do enough reflections from QT, especially since i have not been getting ample rest (been sleeping an average of 5 and a half hours the past 17 days), so my mind is a little switch-ed off. Probably will fall asleep if i do reflections, so i decided to type it out and where else to store but my blog.

I realised a big part of me has not been giving thanks. I do so occasionally, but only when there is something to rejoice for, even recently when i'm working at YFC. But God showed me a few things through His word today.

Today's QT text is taken from Col 3: 12-17. I will quote excerpts of text of portions that striked me.

"bearing with one another and, iif one has a complaint against another, gforgiving each other; gas the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

I know this is not part of thanksgiving, but well how do you give thanks if you do not forgive? Or rather for me, i was a little bothered that that someone is offended or has some unhappiness with me.Well cause i think i have been doing some things that has not been of a very good testimonial. But, actually i should trust that he forgives, more than most others.

Oh actually, the funny thing is, I have a complaint against someone too. But i didnt realise that, i need to forgive that person even if its just a complaint? But well, i guess i need to.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

I indeed lacked peace in my heart. I agree. And yet, be thankful that we could be called in one body and fellow servants of Christ. Why be bothered by something that may not be happening?


"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Has the word been dwelling in me richly? At least i still dont see fruits of it. And i miss singing songs of thanksgiving.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. "

Everything should be done, in word and action, in the name of Jesus. How tough and difficult is that? but it striked me that, i should!!!! And give thanks also! I need to spend time to give thanks, and to remember to give thanks always!

:)