Boasting In The Lord

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED PERSON GLORIES IN CHRIST

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV)
Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

There are many things to boast of in the flesh. People boast of their wealth, wisdom and might. However, these are not worth boasting of, since they do not stand the test of time.

The Lord commands that we glory not in wisdom, might and riches, but that we glory that we understand and know Him (see Jer. 9:23-24). This is because, in times of adversities, these things that seem to have power become nothing.

The Lord is everlasting. He exercises loving-kindness, righteous and judgement. He takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He takes the poor to confound the rich. He takes the weak to confound the mighty. If we have anything to boast of in this life, it should be in the Lord.
Hallelujah!

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, Your are righteous and just. Father, upon all the wisdom, riches and might that You gave man, You gave us Your Son. In Him we shall glory for He makes us understand and know You. Amen.

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The Commission Of Jesus

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED PERSON PROCLAIMS JESUS

Reading: Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

It is one thing to know Jesus Christ, and it is another to make Him known. Proclaiming Christ is a commission given to every believer, not just the apostles of Jesus at His time or just some few.

This commission to believers is a command which every believer and Christian must obey. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations": this means that there is no restrictions as to where we can make known.

Dearly beloved, we have a mandate to making disciples in our home, work place, community, wherever. However, unless we have known and accepted Christ and we are living the transformed life in Him, we cannot make Him known to others.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, be praised. Father, give us the courage to make Christ Jesus known wherever we are. Amen.

Jesus Affirms His Humility

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: Matthew 11:27-30

Matthew 11:29 (NIV)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

No man knows you better than you know yourself. You are the best person to know your strengths and flaws.

Whenever others point something out to you as a weakness or strength, it is based on the angle they are looking from, but it is only you who can best tell whether that is really a weakness or strength. Probably, something else triggers what people see from the outside.

Jesus Christ affirms His humility to teach us that humility is a virtue worth emulation. Can you also affirm your humility? Let this be your motivation to walk in the spirit of humility.
Be blessed always!

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, we adore You. Father, create in us Your humble Spirit that we can affirm our humility as our Lord Jesus did. Amen.

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Humility Is A Beauty

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: 1 Peter 3:3-4

1 Peter 3:4 (NIV)
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

It is quite unfortunate that people seek for the beauty that fades away quickly. Outward beauty is good and pleasant to the eye, but it does not last forever. Time and chance fade it away within a moment.

Humility is one of the unfading beauties of life. Instead of fading with time and chance, it becomes more gloomy, thus much cherished with time.

Humility is a beauty, so do not let go. You may not see the beauty now, but with time, it will beautify your life. And when it does, the beauty will never fade away.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for this unfading beauty of life. Help us walk in a gentle and quiet spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Wear Humility As A Cloth

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: Colossians 3:12-13

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Humility is one of the dresses in God's wardrobe which you can put on. No matter who you are, it will perfectly fit on you.

Wearing humility as a cloth means that you have covered yourself with it, and would not want to go naked by taking it off. It also means that you should let others see your humbleness as the cloth you put on.

Dear friend, cloth is something you do not put away from you, especially in public. Therefore, put on humility as cloth, and wear it wherever you go.
Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, praise be to Your name. Lord, help us to wear humility as a cloth. Amen.

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Humility Leads To Exaltation

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: Proverbs 29:21-23

Proverbs 29:23 (KJV)
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

One of my favourite Sunday School songs is found in James 4:10, which says,
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." This song, "He will lift you up" keeps echoing in my head everyone.

Pride has landed many in destruction. Where they were told not to go; what they were told not to do, they kept deaf ears, and this led to their fall.

Although men may oppose you because of your humility and take you for granted, God will honour. It is better to be opposed by men than to be opposed by God; for God opposes the proud (see James 4:6). It is also a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of God, so humble yourself before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Mighty Jehovah, to You belong all power. O Lord, increase in us that we may decrease, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Humility With God

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: Micah 6:6-8

Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

God does not require much of us, but these three things; justice, love for mercy and humility. Humility is that solid foundation for all other virtues, without which all other virtues of life cannot be fully practiced.

Humility is referred to as meekness and absence of self. It is not about making yourself small or acting as if everyone is better than you are; someone lacking self confidence. It is just that you do not think so highly of yourself.

The Message Bible puts it right, "... And don't take yourself too seriously – take God seriously."  God is not interested in your sacrifices, but that you walk humbly with Him. When you are able to humble yourself before God, your sacrifices and all other Christian virtues will be accepted of Him.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Mighty Jehovah, to You belong all power. O Lord, increase in us that we may decrease, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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The Transformed Life Is Marked By Humility

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED LIFE IS MARKED BY HUMILITY

Reading: Romans 12:16b, c

Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

There are people who see themselves as always right. To them, nothing is possible without them. These are conceited in their eyes with high mindedness. And hardly do they reach the peak of their life.

Humility exalts. Do not confuse humility with lowliness. Everyone can be proud at a time as natural to man, but your ability to give a listening ear, not just to people of same level or higher, but to the lowly determines your humility.

Be humble, dear friend. Greatness is not found in how others are able to serve you, how people bow to you as the world depicts; greatness is found in how you are able to serve those around you in love irrespective of who they are. It takes humility to be a leader who serves. Selah.

Let's Pray:
Almighty Father, be glorified. Lord, create in me a clean heart full of humility; for You give grace to the humble. Amen.

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|Note: since today is a Teaching Sunday, the theme and topics for this week according to the WBL manual has been switched with that of next week. Thank you|

Be Careful That You Do Not Fall

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED PERSON BUILDS UP THE WEAK IN FAITH

Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Although weakness is part the human race, it should not make you fall from the grace which is in the Lord. If you are sick and do not confront a specialist, you became weaker as the days go by.

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Many Christians have become victims of this, so their fall become easier.

Dear friend, know that God is not against you because your are weak, but He will be if you think that you can overcome that weakness by yourself. Jesus Christ, our high priest, knows our weakness, so humble yourself that your weakness do not make you fall. Let Christ bear your weakness.
Stay blessed. Shalom.

Let's Pray:
Immortal, invisible God, Your great name we praise. Lord, help us to watch and pray and on Yourself rely that our weakness do not make us fall, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Endurance In Hope Through Prayer

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED PERSON BUILDS UP THE WEAK IN FAITH

Reading: Psalms 69:6-14

Psalms 69:10 (NIV)

When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;

Weakness brings shame. Weakness brings pain. Weakness brings reproach. When the body is buffeted, people laugh and scorn you.

It takes prayer to endure when there is weakness. It takes the hope in the Lord to pray. Do not give up because of the reproach when you are weak; Jesus passed through it.

Know that the pain, shame and reproach is but for a short time. There will be joy in the morning, so hope in the Lord, pray and you shall endure and prevail over every weakness.

Shalom.

Let's Pray:

Heavenly Father, be glorified. Lord Almighty, be my strength when I am weak, for I hope in You. Amen.

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Watch And Pray

Theme for the Week: THE TRANSFORMED PERSON BUILDS UP THE WEAK IN FAITH

Reading: Matthew 26:36-41

Matthew 26:41 (NIV)
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

At a point in time, the most perfect man, Jesus Christ, became so weak that He had to pray; "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (verse 39).

This means that it does not matter how matured you are in the faith, weakness may fall on you. This human body is bound to this earth and subject to weakness, thus when you confront it with things spiritual, it wearies it down and makes it weak.

Beloved friend, keep in mind that everyone may be weak at a point in time, no matter your level of maturity. Therefore, watch and pray that weakness will not overtake you.
Stay blessed.

Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father, how awesome and wonderful You are! Dear Lord, may we not faint in our times of weakness, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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